Galatasaray won with less ball and fewer chances than usual

Galatasaray beat Amed 4-3 at Rams Park while falling below their usual figures, and Amed's late goal came too late to change the result.

Galatasaray had less of the ball than they usually do, and fewer shots, and still beat Amed at Rams Park. They kept 56% of possession, against a home average of 59.9%. Their chances were thinner too: 16 shots, against an average of 20.8 at home, and an expected goals total of 1.35, where they usually reach 2.11. Expected goals is a way of adding up how likely each shot was to go in, so a lower figure means the openings were less clear.

The match opened sharply. Rafael Leão put Galatasaray ahead in the seventh minute, the kind of start that usually settles a game. Just before half-time, A. Lafont scored an own goal at 45, which pulled the scores level in the eyes of anyone who counted it that way. Leão was the standout for the home side, rated 8.5, and his early strike set the tone.

Amed made two changes at the restart, and the second half was far busier. A. Batrakov put Galatasaray back in front at 59, but Dia Saba answered at 62 and G. Orban struck at 65. Amed had turned the game around within a few minutes, and the home side had to respond.

Barış Alper Yılmaz restored Galatasaray's advantage in the 80th minute, and Yira Collins Sor scored for Amed in the 90th. It was a late goal, but it was not enough to take anything from the match. Galatasaray took the three points, and Amed left with nothing despite the dramatic finish.

Amed had 44% of the ball, against an away average of 48.8%, and took 12 shots against an average of 15.4 when travelling. Their expected goals of 0.94 sat well below the 2.09 they usually create away, so their goals came from fewer clear chances than they normally need. They also picked up three yellow cards, which added to the sense of a team pushed onto the back foot.

Galatasaray lead the table on 25 points after ten games, with Amed second on 23. Galatasaray have won five of their last six matches, and Amed have won five and drawn one in their last six. The home side's only defeat in that run was the 4-1 loss, so this win came after a period of strong results.

Galatasaray are the top side at the moment, and the result keeps them two points clear of Amed. Their numbers were below their own normal levels, yet the scoreboard still reads in their favour. That is the story of the match: fewer chances, a shared spread of goals, and a win.

Player of the matchRafael Leão1 goal8.5

Barış Alper Yılmaz1 goal8.2

Aleksey Batrakov1 goal7.9

Dia Saba1 goal7.3