Galatasaray has been knocked out of the UEFA Europa League after a 2-2 draw at home against AZ Alkmaar in the second leg of the playoff round. The result, combined with the 4-1 loss in the first leg in the Netherlands, gave AZ a commanding 6-3 aggregate victory, sending them through to the Round of 16.

Match Recap: Galatasaray Fights but Falls Short

The return leg at RAMS Park in Istanbul saw AZ Alkmaar start strong, taking the lead in the 43rd minute through Seiya Maikuma, who finished off a swift counterattack with precision.

AZ extended their advantage in the 55th minute when Denso Kasius fired a powerful long-range strike to make it 2-0 for the visitors on the night.

Facing a mountain to climb, Galatasaray showed resilience:

• ⚽ 57' – Victor Osimhen pulled one back with a clinical finish inside the box, sparking hopes of a comeback.
• ⚽ 70' – Roland Sallai equalized with a well-placed shot, but despite their efforts, Galatasaray couldn’t overcome the aggregate deficit.

The match ended 2-2, sealing Galatasaray’s exit from the competition.

Osimhen's Goal

What’s Next for Galatasaray?

With their European journey over, Galatasaray will now shift focus to the Turkish Süper Lig, where they are still in contention for the title.

Their next fixture is a massive Istanbul derby against eternal rivals Fenerbahçe on February 24—a potentially decisive clash in the title race.