“The home side's tired legs may be the story before kick-off”

The group had tightened to a single point between all four sides, and both teams knew that a defeat in Istanbul would leave a mountain to climb in the new year. When the teams were announced, the absences told their own story: Cüneyt Ayhan’s broken ankle forced Galatasaray to field the 20-year-old Sertan Cici at right-back, while Crvena zvezda were without the injured Ilija Mitić and started the equally young Uroš Božić in midfield.

The home side’s tired legs, flagged in our preview, were never allowed to show in the opening half. Galatasaray pressed high and found their reward after 25 minutes, Tekin Avcılar turning in a low cross from the left. Four minutes later Ismael Rodriguez doubled the lead, finishing a swift move with a shot the keeper could only help into the net. The winger, playing at 70 per cent condition, was the game’s outstanding figure: a goal, an assist and six interceptions before being replaced in the 74th minute.

Crvena zvezda had more of the ball and forced twelve corners, but clear chances were rare. Their goal came just after the hour, Aleksandar Jelić cutting inside and beating the keeper with a shot that gave the away support brief hope. The Serbian side kept pushing, and Galatasaray’s back line survived several scrambles, with Nurettin Güler moving inside to help in the centre.

Rodriguez’s influence had been expected, but his sharpness despite low fitness proved decisive. Galatasaray’s win, built on a fast start and a determined finish, keeps them in the race for the knockout places, while Crvena zvezda must wonder how they failed to turn possession into goals.