Young Boys shocks Galatasaray in Champions League playoffs. Salzburg and Sparta Prague also advance
Galatasaray's Mauro Icardi, walks off the pitch after his team lose the Champions League play-off second leg soccer match between Galatasaray and Young Boys in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024. Credit: AP/Francisco Seco
LONDON — Galatasaray followed Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce in getting eliminated from Champions League qualifying, losing in the playoffs to Young Boys of Switzerland on Tuesday to ensure there will be no Turkish representation in the revamped league stage of Europe's elite competition.
Young Boys won 1-0 in the second leg thanks to a goal by Alan Virginius and completed a 4-2 victory on aggregate, despite coming into the playoffs in last place in the 12-team Swiss league.
Fenerbahce, in its first season under Mourinho, was knocked out in the third qualifying round by Lille two weeks ago.
Salzburg and Sparta Prague also advanced to the 36-team league stage by ousting Dynamo Kiev and Malmo, respectively.
Salzburg drew 1-1 with Dynamo to progress 3-1 on aggregate, while Sparta secured a second straight 2-0 win over Malmo.
There are four more matches in the playoffs on Wednesday to complete the 36-team lineup, the draw for which takes place on Thursday.
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