What: Champions League – Round of 16
Who: Galatasaray vs Schalke
When: Wednesday 20th February, 2013, at 19:45 UK Time
Where: Turk Telekom Arena, Istanbul, Turkey
Glamour Names Spark Galatasaray Challenge
Fatih Terim’s men arrive in the last 16 having won their last three Champions League group games to sneak through that phase behind Manchester United. Their reward is a first ever meeting with Schalke and a chance to reach the quarter-finals of Europe’s top club competition for the first time since 2001. Galatasaray will do so battling history, having failed to win any of their last five home games against German opposition. Schalke have never lost to a Turkish side.
Galatasaray will be buoyed by the signings of Wesley Sneijder and Didier Drogba in the January transfer window. Terim has been unwilling to change his standard 4-4-2 system so far, with Sneijder occupying a midfield berth in the absence of Felipe Melo, banned for spitting at an opponent. Drogba seems a more natural fit with Terim’s system, which utilises pace and width, and strong energetic central midfielders.
Drogba, whose move from Shanghai Shenhua is subject of a legal challenge with FIFA from the Chinese side, scored on his debut at the weekend for Terim, but he only played a third of the game and it remains to be seen if he can play a full 90 minutes yet. It is quite a comeback for the player who scored the winning penalty in last year’s final. It will be interesting to see whether Drogba’s arrival overshadows his strike partner, most likely Burak Yilmaz, who was prolific in the group stage, or whether they forge a good relationship. Either way, with Umut Bulut, Johan Elmander, Albert Riera, Sneijder and Hamit Altintop, Terim is spoiled with exciting attacking options who can fire his side into the last eight.
Struggling Schalke Hope for European Respite
Looking at Schalke from outside of Germany, it is remarkable to see how their season has fallen apart given their impressive group stage displays. Huub Stevens led his team to win a group ahead of Arsenal, and in impressive style too. Schalke come into this game with just one defeat in their last nine European away fixtures, yet Stevens was fired and his successor Jens Keller is not enjoying his time so far at the helm.
Schalke do have a decent recent European pedigree, having been semi-finalists two years ago and quarter-finalists in 2007/08. They are also one of only four sides unbeaten in this year’s Champions League. The club’s league form has been horrific of late though and they have lost five of their last eight games domestically. A 4-0 defeat to Bayern Munich recently showed up Schalke’s problems, as the players were accused of lacking fight and giving in too easily.
Last weekend saw a 2-2 draw with Mainz leave Schalke ninth in the Bundesliga, with Keller no closer to helping the team to find their form. With qualification for the Champions League looking a distant hope at the moment, winning the competition seems the most likely, yet still an unlikely, route to competing at this level again next season. But first something big needs to change, and fast.
Recent form
Galatasaray:
Bursaspor 1-1 Galatasaray (02/02; Turkish Super Lig)
Galatasaray 2-0 Antalyaspor (10/02; Turkish Super Lig)
Akhisar Belediyespor 1-2 Galatasaray (15/02; Turkish Super Lig)
Schalke:
Schalke 1-2 Greuther Furth (02/02; Bundesliga)
Bayern Munich 4-0 Schalke (09/02; Bundesliga)
Mainz 2-2 Schalke (16/02; Bundesliga)
Key absences
Galatasaray: Burak Yilmaz (doubt); Johan Elmander (doubt)
Schalke: Atsuto Uchida; Ibrahim Affelay; Ciprian Marica
Players to watch
Galatasaray – Hamit Altintop: Sneijder and Drogba may be the star attractions for the Turkish champions but Altintop, who is half German having been born in Gelsenkirchen, will be raring to go as he comes face to face with his hometown club, with who he started his career. Capable of the spectacular with a superb long range shot, Altintop’s willing runs down the flanks are a key part of Terim’s side.
Schalke – Michel Bastos: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is the man Galatasaray will fear, having scored four goals in the competition already – but Bastos is a real handful and Terim will be wary of the threat he poses. Signed from Lyon in January, he has offered cause for optimism after scoring three times in three games, including a brace in the weekend draw with Mainz. The Brazilian has a good left foot and his delivery from out wide must be watched carefully, whilst he is also liable to chip in with crucial goals. Up against the sometimes suspect Emmanuel Eboue, Bastos could enjoy himself in Istanbul.
Match Prediction
Galatasaray like to use the flanks and they will pose a particular threat in the air, having scored four of their seven goals through headers in the group stage. The Turks also have the lowest goal tally of all the sides in the last 16.
In a way, Terim’s chances may be improved by dropping Sneijder for this game. It is unclear where the Dutchman fits into his system and the fact that he has not been an automatic starter since arriving reflects doubt in the coach’s mind about him too. And if Terim plays a 4-4-2 against this Schalke side with Sneijder in central midfielder, they could easily be overrun in that part of the pitch by the Germans.
The German side may not be in great form but they are a real danger on the break. Bastos and Farfan are both good, quick direct wingers with no little skill, giving Schalke the tools to hit Galatasaray on the counter in the absence of Ibrahim Afellay. The home team will push their full-backs forward to create two on ones and crossing opportunities, so Schalke have a real chance on the break.
This game promises goals. Only Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more goals than Yilmaz, Huntelaar is in great form and Drogba is third only to Ronaldo and Lionel Messi among Champions League goalscorers still playing in the competition. If Felipe Melo starts in midfield then Galatasaray will be more likely to impose their game on Schalke, but either way this could be a match with little control in the middle of the park but plenty of exciting wing play and goalscoring chances. Galatasaray 3-2 Schalke.
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