Batrakov Scores Twice as Galatasaray Beats Stuttgart
The 21-year-old Russian forward netted both goals in a 2-0 Champions League win over the German side.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Soccer
Galatasaray defeated Stuttgart 2-0 in a Champions League match, with Aleksey Batrakov scoring in the 12th and 15th minutes. The 21-year-old became the first Russian player to score twice in a Champions League match since 2015.
Why it matters
Batrakov's brace extends a run of goals in three consecutive Champions League matches for the forward. Russian clubs have been barred from UEFA competitions since 2022, so his performances draw attention to Russian players still competing at European level.
Batrakov has scored in three consecutive Champions League matches, including a 4-1 loss to Barcelona and a 4-2 win over Lille. His brace came in the opening 15 minutes against Stuttgart, and he is 21 years old.
The players
Aleksey Batrakov
A 21-year-old Russian forward who joined Galatasaray in the summer of 2026 and has scored in three consecutive Champions League matches.
Galatasaray
A Turkish professional football club based in Istanbul that competes in UEFA club competitions.
Stuttgart
A German professional football club based in Stuttgart that competed against Galatasaray in the Champions League.
The details
Batrakov, who joined Galatasaray in the summer of 2026, opened the scoring in the 12th minute and added a second in the 15th to decide the match. Both goals came early, setting the tone for Galatasaray's 2-0 win over the German side.
Timeline
2015: Artem Dzyuba scored twice for Zenit St. Petersburg against Lyon, the last such Russian brace in the competition.
2022: Russian clubs were barred from UEFA competitions.
Summer 2026: Batrakov joined Galatasaray.
November 3, 2026: Batrakov scored twice against Stuttgart.
Season Trajectory
Batrakov's brace is the first by a Russian player in the Champions League since Artem Dzyuba's double for Zenit against Lyon in 2015. The milestone comes despite the 2022 ban on Russian clubs from UEFA competitions, which applies to clubs rather than to Russian players at European teams.
Batrakov's scoring streak makes him a relevant pick for fantasy rosters in the coming matches. Fans tracking Champions League standings should note that Galatasaray now has a strong start to its campaign.
The takeaway
Batrakov's rapid start shows that Russian players continue to earn attention at the highest European level even as their clubs remain excluded from UEFA competition. Keep an eye on his form as the Champions League group stage progresses.
Further reading
For more on European club competition, see the Soccer section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Meduza.
