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Galatasaray
Champions League | Group Stage
Oct 21, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Benfica

2-1

Inan (19' pen.), Podolski (33')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Gaitan (2')

Half-Time Report: Galatasaray bounce back to lead Benfica

Goals from Selcuk Inan and Lukas Podolski cancel out Nicolas Gaitan's opener and give Galatasaray a 2-1 half-time lead against Benfica.

Galatasaray have recovered from going a goal down early on to lead Benfica 2-1 at half time in their Champions League clash at the Turk Telekom Arena thanks to strikes from Selcuk Inan and Lukas Podolski.

Nicolas Gaitan had got the visitors off to the perfect start with a deft finish inside the opening two minutes for his third Champions League goal of the season.

Benfica's Argentinian midfielder Nicolas Gaitan scores during the UEFA Champions League football match between Galatasaray AS and SL Benfica at the Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleks stadium in Istanbul on October 21, 2015.© Getty Images

Wesley Sneijder then took charge of a free kick 30 yards from goal after Bilal Kisa had been fouled, but the Dutch midfielder saw his effort comfortably saved by Julio Cesar.

Hakan Balta saw his header from a Sneijder corner tipped away by Cesar, before Podolski's shot was deflected clear as the home side searched for a way back into the game.

However, the leveller came courtesy of a mistake from Rui Vitoria's side as Selcuk fired home from the penalty spot after Andre Almeida had been penalised for handball.

Podolski volleyed an effort narrowly wide on the half-hour mark, before the former Arsenal man completed a first-half comeback for the Turkish champions with a powerful strike that caught Cesar out.

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Benfica's Argentinian midfielder Nicolas Gaitan celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League football match Club Atletico de Madrid vs SL Benfica at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid on September 30, 2015
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
QBayern651016
QCopenhagen62228
3Galatasaray61235
4Man Utd61144

Group B

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QArsenal641113
QPSV62319
3Lens62228
4Sevilla60242

Group C

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QReal Madrid660018
QNapoli631210
3Braga61144
4Union Berlin60242

Group D

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QReal Sociedad633012
QInter Milan633012
3Benfica61144
4Salzburg61144

Group E

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QAtletico642014
QLazio631210
3Feyenoord62046
4Celtic61144

Group F

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QDortmund632111
QPSG62228
3AC Milan62228
4Newcastle61235

Group G

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QMan City660018
QRB Leipzig640212
3Young Boys61144
4Red Star60151

Group H

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QBarcelona640212
QPorto640212
3Shakhtar63039
4Antwerp61053


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