Galatasaray beat Lokomotiv on return to Champions League

ISTANBUL: Galatasaray returned to the Champions League in style, beating Lokomotiv Moscow 3-0.

After spending two seasons outside Europe’s premier club competition, the Turkish champions beat their Russian counterpart with high-tempo tactics and swift counterattacks in the Group D game on Tuesday.

Garry Rodrigues gave Galatasaray the lead in the ninth minute with a low hard shot from just outside the penalty area. Lokomotiv ’ keeper Guilherme got a hand to the ball, but couldn’t stop it.

Eren Derdiyok doubled Galatasaray’s lead in the 67th when he curled a free-kick around the Lokomotiv wall. Only Guilherme’s outstretched hand stopped Rodrigues making it 3-0 on a breakaway in the 75th.

Galatasaray midfielder Badou Ndiaye was sent off in the 87th after earning a second yellow card for a late tackle on Anton Miranchuk.

Selcuk Inan scored Galatasaray’s third from the penalty spot in stoppage time after Guilherme brought down Emre Akbaba on a counter- at tack . It was Galatasaray’s first home win over a Russian club, and their first Champions League victory since beating Benfica in October 2015.

Lokomotiv are back in the Champions League group stage for the first time in 15 seasons. “We were probably too nervous in the beginning,” Lokomotiv leftback Bryan Idowu said.

“Their goals came out of nowhere. We managed to take the game under our control for some time but it didn’t last long.”