If I wanted to play a match on an online server, would GOG Galaxy be required to run the background to so?

I'm interested in playing this game solely for the online experience, but I do not like to have launchers installed, including GOG Galaxy (in other words, I'm not installing Galaxy, so if it's required to run in the background to play in the online, then I'm just not going to buy the game). For BF2, the store explicitly states that GOG Galaxy is required to run multiplayer online, but the same disclaimer is not given on this one, so I'm unsure whether to believe it is required or not.

Also, if I can run multiplayer without GOG Galaxy, will I be able find matches, easily? Are the servers still active with a large playerbase?

Thank you in advanced.

There are two ways you can play multiplayer online (that I know of), the first is through GOG Galaxy by installing the game through it. The second is download the offline installer, download and install GameRanger and find servers on there. Otherwise you are looking at a completely single-player and LAN multi-player experience. I know this is probably not the answer you are looking for, but it is a game from a time when GameSpy was implemented for multiplayer.

Also, quick edit, to answer your question about finding matches easily on Galaxy. There are servers, but you will find that more people are likely to play BF2 over BF1. Last time I saw the player count it was about 8-20 people across a handful of servers (that includes people playing on Steam).