Galatasaray beat Lille 4-2 to end 25-year wait for a win in France

Galatasaray won 4-2 away at Lille on 21 October 2026 in matchday three of the UEFA Champions League league phase at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. According to Turkish daily Sabah, it was the Istanbul club's first European away win against a French side in 25 years, and it made Galatasaray the first Turkish team ever to beat Lille.

The result also rescued Galatasaray's campaign. After losing 3-1 at Sporting CP on matchday one and 4-1 at home to FC Barcelona on matchday two, the Süper Lig champions finally got off the mark with 3 points from 3 games (ScoreLab data).

How did Lille vs Galatasaray unfold?

Galatasaray were clinical: 10 shots and an xG of 1.21 produced four goals, while Lille had more of the ball and 14 attempts but scored twice (ScoreLab data). The sides were level at 2-2 at half-time. Yunus Akgün opened the scoring in the 2nd minute; Habertürk reports the goal came after 1 minute and 5 seconds, the fastest Galatasaray have ever scored in the Champions League. It was the 26-year-old winger's 2nd goal of the season.

Soriba Diaoune struck twice for Lille, in the 7th and 39th minutes, to turn the game around. Aleksey Batrakov levelled in the 44th minute, heading in a cross from Roland Sallai; the 21-year-old Russian had scored his first Galatasaray goal against Barcelona in the same competition. Galatasaray went ahead in the 52nd minute (the goal is credited to Nabil Bentaleb in ScoreLab data), and Victor Osimhen made it 4-2 in the 61st minute from a Barış Alper Yılmaz pass. Facing his former club, the 27-year-old Nigerian striker did not celebrate, Habertürk noted.

When did Galatasaray last win in France?

Before Lille, Galatasaray's last European win on French soil was a 1-0 victory at Nantes on 26 September 2001. Sabah reports that the club's next six trips to France brought two draws and four defeats. According to Habertürk, the Lille game was Galatasaray's 23rd European meeting with French opposition and produced their 8th win.

1. 26 September 2001 — Galatasaray win 1-0 at Nantes, their last victory in France until 2026.
2. 2001-2026 — Six European away games in France: two draws, four defeats.
3. 5 November 2025 — Last Champions League away win before Lille: 3-0 at Ajax.
4. 21 October 2026 — Lille 2-4 Galatasaray ends the wait in France.

Had any Turkish club beaten Lille before?

No Turkish side had beaten Lille in Europe before 21 October 2026. Per Sabah, the French club had met Fenerbahçe and Trabzonspor six times in total, winning two and drawing four, with 7 goals scored and 5 conceded. Galatasaray were facing Lille in Europe for the first time and won at the first attempt.

The win also ended a poor run on the road in the Champions League. Sabah notes Galatasaray had lost five straight away games, starting with a 1-0 defeat at Monaco in last season's league phase and followed by losses to Manchester City (2-0), Juventus (3-2 after extra time), Liverpool (4-0) and Sporting (3-1).

What is next for Galatasaray?

Galatasaray host Fenerbahçe in the Istanbul derby in the Süper Lig on 26 October 2026, sitting top of the table with 19 points from 8 games (ScoreLab data). Their next Champions League fixture is at home to Stuttgart on 3 November 2026.