Galatasaray were beaten 3-0 by Venezia in their second friendly of the club’s preseason camp in Austria. The match at Hofmann Personal Stadion in Linz was goalless at halftime, with the Italian side scoring all three goals after the break. It was Galatasaray’s second defeat in Austria as preparations for the 2026-27 season continued.
Jankat Yılmaz stands out before halftime
Galatasaray started with Jankat Yılmaz, Roland Sallai, Arda Ünyay, Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Kazımcan Karataş, Kaan Ayhan, Lucas Torreira, Yunus Akgün, İlkay Gündoğan, Eren Elmalı and Victor Osimhen. Venezia created the clearer danger in the opening half, but several saves from Jankat Yılmaz kept the score at 0-0 going into the interval.
As expected in a preseason fixture, head coach Okan Buruk used much of his squad after halftime. Berat Luş entered at the break, while Barış Alper Yılmaz, Victor Nelsson, Gabriel Sara, Renato Nhaga and Lesley Ugochukwu came on in the 62nd minute. Leroy Sane, Eyüp Aydın, Elias Jelert and Yusuf Sivaslıoğlu were introduced later, allowing the coaching staff to assess different players and combinations.
Venezia score three times after the break
Venezia moved ahead through John Yeboah in the 71st minute. Lion Lauberbach converted a penalty four minutes later to make it 2-0, then scored again in the second minute of added time to complete the 3-0 result. Galatasaray had a late opportunity from the penalty spot, but goalkeeper Matteo Grandi saved Barış Alper Yılmaz’s attempt.
The official reports published by Galatasaray and Venezia present the same sequence of goals and the same final score. Because the game was a friendly, the result should not be treated as a direct forecast of competitive performance. It nevertheless provided the coaching staff with information about fitness levels, defensive organisation and how players responded to match tempo.
The final 20 minutes changed the scoreline
The match remained level for the first 70 minutes, but its rhythm changed quickly after Venezia took the lead. Galatasaray had made numerous substitutions and needed time to rebuild their structure on the pitch. Venezia used the available space to score twice in a short period, while the third goal in added time produced a more emphatic final score.
Barış Alper Yılmaz’s missed penalty removed Galatasaray’s best chance of ending the game with a goal. Beyond attacking combinations, the response after losing possession and the control of second balls gave the coaching staff additional areas to review before the next friendly.
Buruk says the team performed below its level
Speaking after the game, Okan Buruk said Galatasaray had performed below the level the staff wanted. He noted that several players returning from international duty had only recently resumed work with the squad and were not yet at full physical readiness. Buruk also explained that the team had been playing after a demanding training schedule, a factor that can affect performance during preseason.
The coach acknowledged that the squad still has gaps in some areas and said recruitment work is continuing. He did not announce a confirmed player or a firm timetable for additions. Any transfer development therefore remains dependent on formal club communication rather than speculation.
Two defeats during the Austria camp
Galatasaray lost 2-0 to Monza in their first friendly in Austria before the 3-0 defeat against Venezia. The Turkish champions did not score in either match and will continue training as the squad builds fitness. According to the club’s announced schedule, the preseason programme will continue in Istanbul with further friendlies against Rennes and Villarreal.
In preseason, the workload, the distribution of minutes and the management of injury risk can matter as much as the final score. The two defeats should therefore not be treated as a definitive sign of how the competitive season will unfold. Buruk’s comments indicate that the staff’s immediate priorities are improving physical capacity and preparing the final squad for official fixtures.
The Venezia game left the coaching staff with several areas to review, particularly the chances allowed after halftime and the lack of a finishing touch in attack. Jankat Yılmaz’s first-half saves and the minutes given to players from different age groups were among the notable individual points. A more reliable assessment of Galatasaray’s readiness will only be possible after the remaining friendlies and further progress in assembling the final squad.
