Galatasaray out of UEFA Europa League tournament

By Fatih Erel

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkey's Galatasaray was eliminated from the UEFA Europa League tournament Thursday after losing to Portugal's Benfica 2-1 on aggregate in the round of 32 match.

In Lisbon, Benfica advanced to the round of 16 with a goalless draw against Galatasaray.

In the second-highest level football competition in Europe, Benfica had the advantage going into the match at home with a 2-1 win under their belt from their first-leg away match last Thursday in Istanbul.

The Lions are the only Turkish club to have won the UEFA Cup in 1999-2000 and the 2000 UEFA Super Cup, while Benfica won two European Cups in 1961 and 1962 and lost two Europa League finals in 2013 and 2014.

Galatasaray and Benfica were among the eight teams transferring from the UEFA Champions League group stage to the UEFA Europa League.

Benfica and Galatasaray are in second place in their respective national football leagues.