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Folarin Balogun scored his seventh goal of the season to give Monaco an important win Folarin Balogun scored for the third Champions League game running to take Monaco to victory over Galatasaray. In a game in which both sides missed numerous golden opportunities, Balogun's scrambled 68th-minute effort proved decisive in the principality. It had seemed like being one of those days for Monaco and, in particular, USA international striker Balogun as he failed to convert a number of clear chances, while captain Denis Zakaria also saw a tame penalty saved. But Balogun eventually bundled the ball in with his knee after a corner was headed into the six-yard box and that was enough to secure Monaco's second win of the league phase. The first big chance of the game fell to Galatasaray but, with the goal at his mercy, former Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan blazed over from six yards out. Baris Alper Yilmaz then took down a long ball, shrugged off his defender but hit the outside of the post with just the goalkeeper to beat. Two minutes later, Balogun headed over from close range for Monaco and the hosts missed a number of glaring chances in the second half too. Zakaria bobbled his penalty down the middle, allowing goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir to save with his legs, after former Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino had been brought down by ex-Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez. Balogun then scuffed a shot wide after Minamino had teed him up for a tap-in and thumped over the bar after running clear on goal. The misses did not prove costly, though, as he converted from defender Thilo Kehrer's knockdown to earn Monaco the three points that draw them level with Galatasaray on nine. After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 9th December 2025 at 22: 01 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Sébastien Pocognoli Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Okan Buruk Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Sébastien Pocognoli Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Okan Buruk Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 UEFA Champions League All competitions All competitions All competitions Monaco have faced Galatasaray on six previous occasions in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League, winning half of those meetings (W3 D1 L2). The most recent of those came back in October 2000, however, with Monaco winning 4-2 at home in the first group stage. Galatasaray have only won one of their last 10 away matches against French sides in European competition (D2 L7), going winless in five (D2 L3) since a 1-0 win at Nantes in the UEFA Champions League in September 2001. Galatasaray have averaged just 0. 55 goals per game away to French teams in Europe (six goals in 11 matches), and have failed to score a single goal across their last three trips: 0-0 v Bordeaux in February 2009, 0-5 v Paris SG in December 2019 and 0-0 v Marseille in September 2021. Monaco have won just one of their last eight UEFA Champions League games (D4 L3), failing to win any of their three home games in that run (D2 L1). Galatasaray won 3-0 at Ajax in their last UEFA Champions League away game, but only once have they won consecutively on the road in the competition (3 between November 2012 and March 2013). Indeed, of the 26 teams to have played 50+ away UEFA Champions League games, only Olympiakos (11%) have a lower win rate than Galatasaray (13% - won 8/63). No team have scored more penalty goals than Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League this season (3). These strikes account for 37. 5% of their overall goals this term (3/8), the highest share of any side to score more than once. Monaco’s Folarin Balogun (105) is one of only nine players with 100+ high-intensity pressures made in the final third in the UEFA Champions League this season, while he has scored in his last two outings for the French side in the competition (2 goals – v Bodø/Glimt and Pafos). Only Kylian Mbappé (9) has scored more UEFA Champions League goals than Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen (6), with his six goals coming in just three appearances. He’s also scored in each of his last eight appearances in major European competition, netting 12 goals in total in this run. No player has had more shots (15) or shots on target (6) without scoring in the UEFA Champions League this season than Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche. Galatasaray winger Leroy Sané is currently on a run of 16 appearances without a goal in the UEFA Champions League; his longest without scoring in the competition. However, he does have three goal involvements in two previous games against Monaco in the Champions League (2 goals, 1 assist for Manchester City in 2016-17). Match ends, Monaco 1, Galatasaray 0. Second Half ends, Monaco 1, Galatasaray 0. Corner, Monaco. Conceded by Abdülkerim Bardakci. Attempt blocked. Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Foul by Davinson Sánchez (Galatasaray). Lamine Camara (Monaco) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Roland Sallai (Galatasaray) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Mika Biereth (Monaco). Mika Biereth (Monaco) is shown the yellow card. Roland Sallai (Galatasaray) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Mika Biereth (Monaco). Delay over. They are ready to continue. Delay in match because of an injury Denis Zakaria (Monaco). Lucas Torreira (Galatasaray) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Lamine Camara (Monaco). Davinson Sánchez (Galatasaray) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Mika Biereth (Monaco). Yunus Akgün (Galatasaray) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Kassoum Ouattara (Monaco). Fourth official has announced 7 minutes of added time. Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.