Manchester United confronts a crucial Champions League fixture in Istanbul on Wednesday, and adversaries Galatasaray have impressively prepared for the upcoming clash.
The Turkish giants entered this match following the November international break, having suffered their first defeat in the Turkish Super Lig earlier, against Hatayspor.
In response, Okan Buruk’s team delivered an outstanding performance, securing their most significant victory of the season before facing the Reds. Galatasaray triumphed over Alanyaspor, a team currently in a relegation position in the Turkish top flight, with a resounding 4-0 win at Rams Park, featuring contributions from several well-known names on the scoresheet.
Mauro Icardi initiated the scoring, and Dries Mertens secured a double on either side of the break, while Wilfried Zaha brilliantly concluded the scoring with 20 minutes remaining.
Knowledge of the capabilities of Icardi and Zaha is not unfamiliar to United, especially considering both players found the net in the previous encounter at Old Trafford in October. Zaha has seamlessly adapted to life in Turkey, registering four goals in his last three domestic appearances.
Yıllar önce bu gözler bunu da gördü. Galatasaray lehine işte verilmeyen penaltı.
— Plus Sports (@plussportz) November 27, 2023
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Despite the victory, Galatasaray couldn’t ascend to the top of the Turkish Super Lig, with arch-rivals Fenerbahce leading on goal difference. The competition is equally intense in our Champions League group.
Galatasaray’s back-to-back defeats against Bayern Munich in their two most recent European matches leave them with just a one-point advantage over United in the Group A standings. In the standings, the Turkish side is only behind FC Copenhagen on goal difference.
Ensuring hopes for qualification to the knockout stages remain intact requires securing at least one point. If we achieve a victory, it would position us ahead of our opponents, securing at least the second spot, pending Copenhagen’s match against Bayern in the later kick-off.
What’s happening on tuesday
Tuesday signifies the intensification of preparations for the Turkey trip, marked by the release of details concerning the traveling squad.
Fans will also have the chance to observe the initial 15 minutes of the training session at Carrington before the team departs. Additionally, Erik ten Hag’s pre-match press conference, featuring one of his players, will be broadcast.
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