Buruk deployed a 4-2-3-1 system that functioned primarily as a 4-4-2 in the defensive phase. The primary objective was to deny Barcelona access to the "Zone 14" area. Lucas Torreira and Mario Lemina acted as a formidable double-pivot, screening passes into Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez. Their pressing triggers were highly specific: they allowed Barcelona’s centre-backs, Pau Cubarsi and Eric Garcia, to have the ball, but engaged aggressively the moment the ball entered the middle third or went wide to Joao Cancelo.
In build-up, Galatasaray bypassed the press by going long to Victor Osimhen, who acted as the tactical focal point. His ability to win aerial challenges allowed Batrakov and Leao to feast on second balls. This directness resulted in the opening goal in the 28th minute, where Leao's assist found Batrakov to stun the visitors.
Defensively, the backline stayed incredibly compact, successfully catching Barcelona offside eight times throughout the match. However, the intensity required to maintain this shape began to wane as the game progressed, leaving gaps that a side of Barcelona's calibre was always likely to exploit once the initial energy of the home crowd dissipated.