Young Russian Batrakov scores twice as Galatasaray beat Stuttgart 2-0

Twenty-one-year-old midfielder Alexey Batrakov, who moved from Lokomotiv to Galatasaray for around €25 million in the summer, scored twice in four minutes during the fourth-round Champions League match. The Istanbul side beat Stuttgart 2-0 and moved to six points.

Russian midfielder Alexey Batrakov was the hero of the fourth-round match in the Champions League league phase as Galatasaray beat German side Stuttgart 2-0 at RAMS Park in Istanbul. Both goals were scored by the 21-year-old Lokomotiv academy graduate, who struck in the 12th and 16th minutes to complete his brace in just four minutes.

The first goal followed a run down the right flank by Roland Sallai. After the ball deflected off a defender, it fell to Batrakov, who finished accurately. Soon afterward, Colombian defender Davinson Sánchez played a pass behind the defense, allowing the Russian midfielder to burst into the penalty area and double the hosts’ lead in a one-on-one situation.

Galatasaray and Stuttgart players before kickoff at RAMS Park

€25 million summer transfer

Galatasaray signed Batrakov in August. Reuters reported that the Turkish club paid Lokomotiv around €25 million, while the Moscow team will receive 15% of the fee from his next transfer. The contract runs for five years. Batrakov, who was born in 2005, moved to Istanbul after extending his agreement with Lokomotiv until 2029 in the summer of 2025.

Çakır’s saves and a disallowed goal

Stuttgart could have opened the scoring as early as the eighth minute, but Leweling’s shot struck both posts. The Germans improved after the break: Galatasaray goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır saved a shot from Deniz Undav, the visitors’ goal in the 75th minute was disallowed for offside after a VAR review, and Çakır denied Pejcinovic in a one-on-one situation in the 86th minute. Before the match, the stadium observed a minute of silence for Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel, who died after a collision with an opposing goalkeeper.

For Okan Buruk’s team, this was a second consecutive victory in the tournament. Galatasaray now have six points, while Stuttgart, who have seven, suffered their first defeat. In the next round, the Istanbul side will host English club Aston Villa.

Photo: social media

Young Russian Batrakov scores twice as Galatasaray beat Stuttgart 2-0