UEFA Champions League
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Played
February 20, 2013 7:45 PM GMT
Türk Telekom Arena — Istanbul
Referee:‬ W. Collum‎
Attendance:‬ 50734‎
 

Galatasaray-Schalke Preview: All to play for in Istanbul

Both sides will be looking to assert themselves at the Turk Telekom Arena as they go in search of qualification for the last eight of the Champions League

By Enis Koylu

More On :  Galatasaray, Schalke 04, Galatasaray vs Schalke 04
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GALATASARAY

Muslera
Eboue, Nounkeu, Semih, Riera
Hamit, Felipe Melo, Selcuk
Sneijder
Drogba, Burak
SCHALKE

Unnerstall
Hoger, Howedes, Matip, Fuchs
Jones, Neustadter
Farfan, Draxler, Bastos
Huntelaar

Galatasaray are set to hand Didier Drogba his first start for the club, with the Ivorian having scored on his debut after coming off the bench on Friday against Akhisar.

However, Tomas Ujfalusi and Johan Elmander will miss out due to injury, while Emmanuel Eboue could come back in at right-back, with Sabri Sarioglu dropping to the bench.

Schalke, meanwhile, are expected to welcome back Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, with the Dutch striker having struggled with an eye injury in recent matches.

However, they will be without a host of big-name players, including Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Atsuto Uchida, Ibrahim Afellay and Ciprian Marica all missing out.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Galatasaray star Drogba scored just five minutes into his Super Lig debut on Friday. His last Champions League touch won Chelsea the competition.
  • Hamit Altintop (pictured, right) started his career at Schalke, and enjoyed spells at Bayern Munich and Real Madrid before moving to Istanbul.
  • Burak Yilmaz has scored six of his side's seven Champions League matches.
  • Schalke have not lost a Champions League match since their semi-final tie at Old Trafford in 2010-11.
  • The Veltins Arena club have won just once in 2013 - a 5-4 home triumph over Hannover on January 18.
  • Michel Bastos has scored three goals in as many games for Jens Keller's side since moving there from Olympique Lyonnais in January.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Galatasaray 2-0 Schalke 04
    19.18 %
  • Galatasaray 2-1 Schalke 04
    17.94 %
  • Galatasaray 3-1 Schalke 04
    13.51 %
Head to Head
UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ Mar 12, 2013 Schalke 04 2 - Galatasaray 3
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UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ Feb 20, 2013 Galatasaray 1 - Schalke 04 1
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Last Five Matches
Galatasaray
May 18, 2013Galatasaray 2 - Trabzonspor AŞ 0TUR1
May 12, 2013Fenerbahce 2 - Galatasaray 1TUR1
May 5, 2013Galatasaray 4 - Sivasspor 2TUR1
Apr 28, 2013Gaziantepspor 0 - Galatasaray 1TUR1
Apr 19, 2013Galatasaray 3 - Sanica Boru Elazığspor 1TUR1
Schalke 04
May 18, 2013SC Freiburg 1 - Schalke 04 2GER1
May 11, 2013Schalke 04 1 - VfB Stuttgart 2GER1
May 3, 2013Borussia Mönchengladbach 0 - Schalke 04 1GER1
Apr 28, 2013Schalke 04 4 - Hamburg 1GER1
Apr 20, 2013Eintracht Frankfurt 1 - Schalke 04 0GER1
Odds
Returns: Galatasaray £170.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Draw £34.00 Coral Sign up today with Coral and get a £50 FREE bet - no strings attached!
Returns: Schalke £170.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Team News
Available Squads
25Néstor Muslera MicolGoalkeeper
13Dany NounkeuDefender
26Semih KayaDefender
55Sabri SarıoğluDefender
4Hamit AltintopMidfielder
8Selçuk İnanMidfielder
10Felipe MeloMidfielder
11Albert RieraMidfielder
14Wesley SneijderMidfielder
17Burak YılmazStriker
12Didier DrogbaStriker
67Eray İşcanGoalkeeper
22Hakan BaltaDefender
27Emmanuel EboueDefender
35Yekta KurtuluşMidfielder
52Emre ÇolakMidfielder
19Umut BulutStriker
53Nordin AmrabatStriker
34Timo HildebrandGoalkeeper
4Benedikt HöwedesDefender
32Joel MatipMidfielder
35Sead KolasinacMidfielder
12Marco HögerMidfielder
13Jermaine JonesMidfielder
31Julian DraxlerMidfielder
33Roman NeustädterMidfielder
11Michel Fernandes BastosMidfielder
17Jefferson Agustin FarfánStriker
25Klaas-Jan HuntelaarStriker
1Ralf FährmannGoalkeeper
21Christoph MetzelderDefender
23Christian FuchsDefender
27Tranquillo BarnettaMidfielder
-Max MeyerMidfielder
19Chinedu Ogbuke ObasiStriker
20Teemu PukkiStriker
Players to Watch
Burak Yılmaz
Burak Yılmaz
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 17
Games Goals YC RC
9 8 3 0
All eyes will inevitably be on Didier Drogba and Wesley Sneijder on Wednesday, but it was Burak Yilmaz who led to their charge to the knockout stages of the Champions League, and he will be eager to reassert himself as top dog.
Benedikt Höwedes
Benedikt Höwedes
Position: Defender
Squad Number: 4
Games Goals YC RC
8 2 1 0
As Schalke stumble more and more, the need for the skipper to showcase his leadership qualities, particularly at the back. Galatasaray's supporters will do their best to create an intimidating atmosphere, and the Germany defender will be needed to steady the ship.
Prediction
Galatasaray will be encouraged by Schalke's appalling run of form, which has seen them win just once since the start of November, and, backed by their raucous home support, should be able to claim a first-leg lead.
Editor's Prediction
Galatasaray 2
Schalke 1
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid 		12 0
Robert Lewandowski Robert Lewandowski
Striker
Dortmund 		10 1
Thomas Müller Thomas Müller
Striker
Bayern 		8 1
Lionel Messi Lionel Messi
Striker
Barcelona 		8 0
Burak Yılmaz Burak Yılmaz
Striker
Galatasaray 		8 0