ISTANBUL: Schalke grabbed a valuable away goal at Galatasaray as they drew the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie.
A thumping finish from Burak Yilmaz for his seventh goal in seven games in this season's Champions League opened the scoring, and former Schalke player Hamit Altintop then rattled the crossbar.
Even though all eyes were set on Ivory Coast striker, 34, who hit the winning penalty for Chelsea in last season’s final and fellow marquee signing Wesley Sneijder, it was another Galatasaray player that grabbed the limelight, as the hosts took a 12th-minute lead.
A thumping finish from Burak Yilmaz for his seventh goal in seven games in this season's Champions League opened the scoring, and former Schalke player Hamit Altintop then rattled the crossbar.
However, Schalke had chances too and got a deserved equaliser on the stroke of half time at the end of a blistering counter-attack, with Jefferson Farfan setting up Jermaine Jones to thump home first-time.
"We are really happy with the result," said Jones, as Schalke, struggling domestically just now, go into the second leg with the upper hand.
Galatasaray midfielder Nordin Amrabat admitted: "The formula for victory is very simple now. We need to score and win, but it won't be easy."
The second leg of the tie will be played on March 12. (AFP)
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