Bruno Fernandes delivered a stunning goal against Galatasaray before Manchester United imploded in the second half of Wednesday’s Champions League clash.
After Alejandro Garnacho scored for the second successive match, Fernandes doubled United’s lead in the 18th minute with a brilliant effort from outside the box.
(Available to view in U.S. only)
WE DO TALK ABOUT BRUNO!
A STUNNER FROM MAN UTD’S CAPTAIN! ? pic.twitter.com/yfDt2DYnCP
— CBS Sports Golazo ?? (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 29, 2023
(Available to view in Canada only)
BRUNO FERNANDES MAKES IT 2-0 WITH A ?
Watch the #UCL on DAZN pic.twitter.com/BMx7wy4D9h
— DAZN Canada (@DAZN_CA) November 29, 2023
But the comfortable advantage didn’t last long. Weeks after coughing up an early 2-0 lead against FC Copenhagen, United collapsed in similar fashion in Istanbul. Hakim Ziyech kept hope alive for the hosts by beating Andre Onana with a pair of free-kicks that the Cameroonian ‘keeper should’ve saved.
Kerem Akturkoglu then added to Onana’s miserable evening with a powerful strike that brought Galatasaray level in the 71st minute.
Manchester United can’t stop humiliating themselves.
A comical error by goalkeeper Andre Onana and a ferocious right-footed shot from Kerem Akturkoglu erased Galatasaray’s 3-1 deficit during Wednesday’s Champions League match in Istanbul.
The 3-3 draw leaves United at the bottom of Group A with just four points. Copenhagen and Galatasaray are a point ahead with five each. Bayern Munich have already clinched first place in the group with 13 points.
The Red Devils must now beat Bayern on Dec. 12 and hope Copenhagen and Galatasaray play out a draw to advance.
The comeback began when Onana mishandled Hakim Ziyech’s free-kick in the 62nd minute. The Cameroonian goalkeeper, who’s struggled all season, then made a futile leap as Akturkoglu fired in the equalizer in the 71st.
(Available to view in U.S. only)
SENSATIONAL FROM AKTÜRKOGLU. ?
ALL LEVEL BETWEEN GALATASARAY AND MAN UTD IN ISTANBUL. ?? pic.twitter.com/eOoOd3EwjR
— CBS Sports Golazo ?? (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 29, 2023
(Available to view in Canada only)
GALATASARAY MAKE IT 3-3 ?#UCL pic.twitter.com/CIuGb1VoVH
— DAZN Canada (@DAZN_CA) November 29, 2023
United have conceded a staggering 14 goals in five European matches. Only Royal Antwerp (15) have allowed more in the Champions League group stage this season. Incidentally, Antwerp are the only team without a point thus far.
Alejandro Garnacho’s opener and Bruno Fernandes’ spectacular hit from distance gave United an early 2-0 advantage. Ziyech halved the deficit with a 29th-minute free-kick that found a hole in the wall and eluded Onana.
Scott McTominay restored United’s two-goal lead when he connected with Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s pass into the area, only for Galatasaray to roar back.
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The path to Euro 2024 glory has been outlined.
The group stage draw for next summer’s tournament was conducted Saturday in Hamburg, Germany, offering up some enticing matchups involving the continent’s perennial titans.
Reigning European champion Italy, which barely avoided another qualifying disaster just to reach the competition, was rewarded with a place in arguably the most difficult of the six groups. The Azzurri will have to navigate a quartet that includes Spain and Croatia as they bid to retain their crown. Italy beat Spain in a penalty shootout in the semifinals en route to its Euro 2020 triumph.
France, always among the favorites at any international tournament, was handed a tricky test in Group D alongside the Netherlands and Austria.
Meanwhile, England and Denmark will meet in Group C in a rematch of the Euro 2020 semifinals, a game the Three Lions won in extra time.
Euro 2024 begins with host nation Germany taking on Scotland on June 14. The Germans, who lost six of their 11 friendly matches and changed their coach this year, won’t play another competitive game until the tournament opener in Munich.
The tournament final is slated for July 14 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
Here are the groups in full:
Group A
Slot
Nation
1
Germany ??
2
Scotland ?gbsct
3
Hungary ??
4
Switzerland ??
Match schedule (kickoffs in ET)
June 14: Germany vs. Scotland – 3 p.m.
June 15: Hungary vs. Switzerland – 9 a.m.
June 19: Germany vs. Hungary – 12 p.m.
June 19: Scotland vs. Switzerland – 3 p.m.
June 23: Switzerland vs. Germany – 3 p.m.
June 23: Scotland vs. Hungary – 3 p.m.
Group B
Slot
Nation
1
Spain ??
2
Croatia ??
3
Italy ??
4
Albania ??
Match schedule (kickoffs in ET)
June 15: Spain vs. Croatia – 12 p.m.
June 15: Italy vs. Albania – 3 p.m.
June 19: Croatia vs. Albania – 9 a.m.
June 20: Spain vs. Italy – 3 p.m.
June 24: Albania vs. Spain – 3 p.m.
June 24: Croatia vs. Italy – 3 p.m.
Group C
Slot
Nation
1
Slovenia ??
2
Denmark ??
3
Serbia ??
4
England ?gbeng
Match schedule (kickoffs in ET)
June 16: Slovenia vs. Denmark – 12 p.m.
June 16: Serbia vs. England – 3 p.m.
June 20: Slovenia vs. Serbia – 9 a.m.
June 20: Denmark vs. England – 12 p.m.
June 25: England vs. Slovenia – 3 p.m.
June 25: Denmark vs. Serbia – 3 p.m.
Group D
Slot
Nation
1
Playoff winner A ??
2
Netherlands ??
3
Austria ??
4
France ??
Match schedule (kickoffs in ET)
June 16: Playoff winner A vs. Netherlands – 9 a.m.
June 17: Austria vs. France – 3 p.m.
June 21: Playoff winner A vs. Austria – 12 p.m.
June 21: Netherlands vs. France 3 p.m.
June 25: Netherlands vs. Austria – 12 p.m.
June 25: France vs. Playoff winner A – 12 p.m.
Group E
Slot
Nation
1
Belgium ??
2
Slovakia ??
3
Romania ??
4
Playoff winner B ??
Match schedule (kickoffs in ET)
June 17: Romania vs. Playoff winner B – 9 a.m.
June 17: Belgium vs. Slovakia – 12 p.m.
June 21: Slovakia vs. Playoff winner B – 9 a.m.
June 22: Belgium vs. Romania – 3 p.m.
June 26: Slovakia vs. Romania – 12 p.m.
June 26: Playoff winner B vs. Belgium – 12 p.m.
Group F
Slot
Nation
1
Turkey ??
2
Playoff winner C ??
3
Portugal ??
4
Czechia ??
Match schedule (kickoffs in ET)
June 18: Turkey vs. Playoff winner C – 12 p.m.
June 18: Portugal vs. Czechia – 3 p.m.
June 22: Playoff winner C vs. Czechia – 9 a.m.
June 22: Turkey vs. Portugal – 12 p.m.
June 26: Playoff winner C vs. Portugal – 3 p.m.
June 26: Czechia vs. Turkey – 3 p.m.
The top two nations in each group, along with the four best third-placed finishers, advance to the knockout stages of the competition, which opens on June 29. Kickoff times for the group matches will be finalized at a later date.
Why isn’t the entire field confirmed?
The three outstanding tournament berths will be determined by the qualification playoffs.
The 12 teams that reached the playoffs have been split into three sections – Paths A, B, and C – and will compete in four-team tournaments. The single-elimination semifinals are scheduled for March 21, 2024, with the decisive finals in each path taking place on March 26.
As outlined above, the eventual winners from each path will already know their allocated tournament group upon qualifying.
The playoff matchups are as follows:
Path A: Poland vs. Estonia, Wales vs. Finland Path B: Israel vs. Iceland, Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Ukraine Path C: Georgia vs. Luxembourg, Greece vs. Kazakhstan
