Galatasaray 2-2 AZ Player Ratings: The Dutch side go all out attacking and seal place in the next round

For the first time in 11 years, AZ has made it to the Round of 16 after beating Galatasaray in the playoff. The Dutch side came into the Europa League game with a 4-1 advantage but started on the front foot and gave the home side a shock.

The Eredivisie side came close to scoring twice in the first 5 minutes of the match but Guvenc made stunning saves to keep his side in the game. He was helped out by Sanchez, who made a block on the line to keep the scoreline goalless.

The match looked set to stay goalless but a pinball deflection saw the ball come off Seiya Maikuma and pop into the goal. The away side took the lead into the break and then came out all guns blazing once again in the second half.

Denso Kasius made it 2-0 with a stunning strike from outside the box to beat Guvenc again and that made it 6-1 in the tie for AZ. The tie seemed all but done before Victor Osimhen pulled one back seconds after kick-off.

The goal brought the home crowd alive once again and Roland Sallai made it 2-2 on the pitch in the 70th minute. However, that was it, and the two sides failed to beat the goalkeepers, who were on top of their game today, at either end.

AZ were held 2-2 on the night, but won the tie 6-3 on aggregate and sealed a place in the Round of 16. Here are the Galatasaray vs AZ Player Ratings.

Galatasaray player ratings

GK – Gunay Guvenc – 7.5

He was the only reason why Galatasaray stayed in the tie for so long today. He made some exceptional saves in the first half and stopped the barrage of attacks from AZ.

RB – Carlos Cuesta – 7

Nothing much he could do today but was lively in the match. Up and down the right flank as Galatasaray chased the game and tried their best to make the comeback.

CB – Davinson Sanchez – 8

His block on the goalline kept Galatasaray in the match or else it would have been over from them in the opening minutes. He held his own and was the best outfielder for the Turkish side by a mile but was still taken off at halftime.

CB – Abdulkerim Bardakci – 7

He kept his calm today and did not struggle against the AZ attack. He won most of his duels but that was not enough to stop the goals.

LB – Elias Jelert – 5

He was struggling throughout the game and was tormented by Poku. Very little he could do to stop the AZ attacks and both goals came from his side.

RM – Naris Alper Yilmaz – 7

He was trying his best to charge down the right flank and shoot at every chance. However, none of his shots threatened the AZ goalkeeper, but he still managed to get an assist in the game.

CM – Lucas Torreira – 7

He was brilliant today and was their best player in the first 60 minutes of the match. He too got an assist in the game but AZ had all but sealed the tie before Galatasaray made the comeback.

CM – Gabriel Sara – 7

He played just over 70 minutes today but could not do much. He was chasing the ball most of the game and shooting from ranger as well.

LM – Ronland Sallai – 8

Hardly involved in the match but every time he got the ball. He was trying to make things happen. Got the goal to make it 2-2 in the match, but sadly it was too little too late for the Turkish side in the tie.

ST – Dries Mertens – 6.5

Nothing he could do today to impact the match. The Galatasaray coaching staff were quick to act on it and the Belgian was taken off at the halftime break.

ST – Victor Osimhen – 7.5

He was shooting at will today but the first half was rather quiet. He should have done better on a lot of occasions but his goal out of nothing in the second half started the comeback. However, he was taken off with just over 10 minutes left as Galatasaray realized there was no chance of making it to the next round and the focus was shifted back to the upcoming match against Fenerbahce.

SUB – Metehan Baltaci – 6

Came on at halftime for Diers Mertens but there was very little he could do on the pitch. Just like the Belgian, he too was chasing the ball most of the time and he could not do anything in the final third.

SUB – Kerem Demirbay – 5

Did not have a lot to do in the game today despite coming on at halftime. He was hardly getting the ball near the box but did well to close down the AZ players and win the ball back.

SUB – Brekan Kutlu – 5

Played over 30 minutes but hardly got on the ball. He had a lot more to do in his half than the attack.

SUB – Yusuf Demir – 5

Came on for the final 15 minutes and never got a chance to shoot.

SUB – Muhammed Berat Lus – 5

Played just over 10 minutes and never got to do much. He was brought on just to save Victor Osimhen for the upcoming league game against Fenerbahce.

Manager – Okan Buruk – 6

Set up the team well but should have made some quick decisions after AZ started the game on the front foot. He expected the away side to sit back, but they were looking to attack from the get-go, and he failed to make the tweaks.

AZ player ratings

GK – Rome Jayden Owusu-Oduro – 8

He made 7 brilliant saves to keep his side ahead in the tie. Without his saves, there was a good chance this game would have gone into extra time or even gone in favor of the Turkish side.

RB – Seiya Maikuma – 7.5

He was all over the right flank today and managed to get the opening goal of the match. He managed to keep Sallai quiet before the Hungarian star switched flanks.

CB – Wouter Goes – 6.5

He did not have a lot to do today and was hardly involved in the game. Dealt with Osimhen well when needed.

CB – Alexandre Penetra – 6.5

He was strolling around and shadowing Osimhen in the first half. He stayed calm at the back but was unable to close down the Galatasaray forwards in the second half.

LB – David Moller Wolfe – 5.5

Not the best game for the left-back, but he did his job well. He was mostly involved in the attack and not much in defense.

CDM – Peer Koopmeiners – 7.5

He came close to scoring at the very end of the match with a stunning strike from outside the box. However, it hit the bar and stayed out despite the goalkeeper falling on the ball.

CDM – Kristijan Belic – 7

He was willing to shoot at every chance but never came close to scoring. He was taken off at the hour mark.

RM – Ernest Poku – 7

He kept trying to get into the box and never stopped in the whole game. He could not get a goal or an assist but still managed to impress today.

CAM – Sven Mijnans – 4.5

He scored a stunning goal in the first leg, but failed to do much today. He played just 12 minutes as he got injured and had to be forced off.

LM – Mayckel Lahdo – 6.5

No goal or assist for the left midfielder and he was ineffective in the game. He was taken off at half-time.

ST – Troy Parrott – 6

Started the game well but failed to make an impact. He shot a few times but only one was on target today.

SUB – Zico Buurmeester – 7.5

He was brilliant in the match after coming on for Mijnans. He failed to get a goal or an assist, but still impressed today as he was all over the pitch.

SUB – Denso Kasius – 7

He came on at halftime and was superb in the second half. He scored the second goal of the match to all but seal the tie for AZ.

SUB – Kees Smit – 6.5

Played just under 30 minutes and was doing well to get the ball back in the middle of the pitch.

SUB – Mess de Wit – 5

Played just the final few minutes and did not have a lot to do.

SUB – Ibrahim Sadiq – 5

Played just the final few minutes and did not have a lot to do.

Manager – Maarten Martens – 8

He did the right thing and made his players attack from the start. If he had set his side to sit back and defend, that would have seen his players fail to make it to the next round.