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Rafael Leão · Galatasaray · Lille · Okan Buruk

Leão's groin scan decides Galatasaray's night in Lille after 7 goals conceded in 2

By the Data Desk · ·

First reported by Galatasaray statement, via Fotomaç · 18 OCT 10:15

Rafael Leão came off the bench in Ankara on Saturday and lasted 16 minutes: in the 77th his foot slipped on the Eryaman pitch and he went off holding his groin. Galatasaray say it is a strain of the groin muscle, and Monday's tests decide whether he travels to Lille, where both teams start Wednesday's game with 0 points.

  • Club statement: a strain in the groin muscle after his foot slipped and his leg opened too far; his exact condition will be clear after further tests on Monday 19 October.
  • Galatasaray have lost 3-1 at Sporting and 4-1 at home to Barcelona: 7 goals conceded, 35th of 36 in the Champions League table, one place below Lille.
  • Leão has no goal yet for Galatasaray in seven games, but he made the only goal they have created in Europe, Batrakov's opener against Barcelona on a fast break.
Why it mattersLille v Galatasaray on Wednesday brings together two of the bottom three, both without a point, and the Fenerbahçe derby follows on Monday. Whether Leão is fit shapes both.

Leão replaced Leroy Sané in the 61st minute at Gençlerbirliği and was replaced by Deniz Gül 16 minutes later. Galatasaray still won 1-0, with an 88th-minute goal that came from a mistake by home goalkeeper İrfan Can Eğribayat, and stayed top of the Süper Lig with 19 points from eight games.

Okan Buruk blamed the ground, not bad luck, and asked the Turkish federation, the TFF, to inspect pitches like this one. "Saha yüzünden sakatlık verdik", he said, as quoted by Hürriyet: we picked up an injury because of the pitch. Then he named the problem: "Bir oyuncu kaybettik. 3 gün sonra maç var Avrupa'da", we lost a player, and there is a European game in three days.

The numbers explain the worry. Galatasaray have scored twice in two Champions League games: an own goal by Gonçalo Inácio in Lisbon and Alexey Batrakov's finish from Leão's pass against Barcelona. Leão has started four of his seven games since arriving from Milan, with one assist and no goals (ESPN), and he knows the opponent well: he played for Lille in 2018-19.

What is not known is how bad the strain is. The club has given no timescale, and Turkish outlets including NTV list him as doubtful for Lille and for the derby. Lille v Galatasaray kicks off at 16:45 UTC on Wednesday 21 October at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy; Fenerbahçe visit RAMS Park on Monday 26 October.

Our take

Without Leão, Lille is a game not to lose

We think a Galatasaray side without Leão should go to Lille looking for a point first. Their one open-play goal in Europe came from his run on the break, and their defence has let in 3.5 a game in this competition, while Lille have conceded 5 in seven Ligue 1 games. Lille have lost both European games too, so a draw keeps Galatasaray level with a direct rival and fresher for Fenerbahçe five days later. If the scan clears Leão for the bench, Buruk has his outlet for the last half hour, and we would expect him to chase the win.

Our Galatasaray v Barcelona analysis →Osimhen back in Galatasaray training →Gündoğan's 11 minutes before Barcelona →Football news →
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Updates

  1. The scan is in. After Monday's MRI, Galatasaray said Leão has a mild-to-moderate strain of the groin muscle ("hafif-orta düzey zorlanma tespit edilmiş olup tedavisine başlanmıştır"): treatment has started, he will be checked daily, and the club gave no return date (NTV Spor). Turkish reports, HT Spor among them, do not expect him to play in Lille on Wednesday (16:45 UTC), and whether he is back for the Fenerbahçe derby on 26 October is open. That is the case our take covered: without Leão, Galatasaray should go to Lille for a point first.
  2. Update, Tuesday 20 October: Leão is not in Galatasaray's 23-man squad for Lille, which the club published on its official X account (Habertürk). Turkish reports say he stayed in Istanbul to continue his treatment, and the club has still given no return date. Wilfried Singo, back from injury, travels. Lille v Galatasaray kicks off at 16:45 UTC today, Wednesday 21 October, and our take stands: without Leão, a point first.
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