Galatasaray is on the agenda in Spain before the Barcelona match! 'Are you ready for hell? 'Barça's first big European campaign'

Galatasaray hosts Barcelona at home tomorrow in the second week of the UEFA Champions League.

Before this giant match, the leading newspapers of the Spanish media devoted their headlines to Barcelona's away match against Galatasaray. Here are some headlines;

MUNDO DEPORTIVO: BARÇA'S FIRST MAJOR EUROPEAN CHALLENGE: IN THE ATMOSPHERE OF HELL IN TURKEY

The strongest and most extraordinary Barça team of recent seasons will face its first big test in the Champions League against Galatasaray, which is also the leader in its own league in Turkey. Barça has secured the league championship with a record number of wins since the beginning of the season and is coming into this match having comfortably defeated Feyenoord in its first match in Europe. 9 wins in 9 matches. Today, Barça must show that they can succeed in a hellish environment, against a tough opponent that should not be underestimated.

At the beginning of this season, Hansi Flick's team handled adverse situations masterfully; but these matches were always against teams with different priorities, most focused on avoiding relegation. In Europe, they faced a Dutch team that was still in its formation stage. For this reason, the Galatasaray match they will play at Ali Sami Yen Stadium appears as a real test of the undeniable reliability of this team. Moreover, the Turkish team had a bad start to the season by losing 3-1 to Sporting SC in their opening match in Portugal. They conceded the goal very late, in extra time.

Although Raphinha, Barcelona's top scorer with 14 goals, is not in the squad due to his illness, Hansi Flick is not worried. There are plenty of players in the team who can score goals. Flick's main concern is the atmosphere of the match.

MARCA: ARE YOU READY FOR HELL?

Playing in Türkiye has never been easy. The pressure created by crowds in stadiums is very strong and represents an obstacle that opposing teams must overcome. Ali Sami Yen is one of these stadiums. The Blaugranas know very well what a tough job it is every time they come to this venue, since the legendary Dream Team lost there against Galatasaray in a Champions League match in the 90s.

The fact is that in the last matches Barcelona managed to beat the Turkish team despite the strong support of its loyal fans. Flick aims to continue Barcelona's last three-game winning streak in this stadium. Looking at the current state of their team, it is logical to think that the Blaugrana will continue their winning streak; because the team completes every match it plays with a victory. It would be the tenth consecutive win in an unprecedented start to the season in the club's history. Even Raphinha's absence shouldn't pose a problem. On Saturday, the team already proved that it can compensate for the absence of its most in-form player. There are no valid excuses in this group stage of the Champions League. Every point is worth gold and mistakes come with a heavy price.

AS: ISTANBUL IS PREPARING FOR THE BARCELONA MATCH

RAMS Park, like the old Ali Sami Yen, is much more than a stadium: it is a fundamental part of Galatasaray's identity.

Istanbul has already set its sights on Barcelona. The visit of Hansi Flick's team placed the Catalan giant at the center of the football agenda in Turkey; A special Champions League night is expected to happen here. This is not an ordinary visit or just a match for Galatasaray. The team welcomes a Barça team that commands renewed respect in Europe and must also prove that it is ready to survive on one of the toughest stages on the continent. The Turkish press did not underestimate the importance of the opponent. On the contrary. Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk was the first to praise Flick's team and described them as one of the fittest teams in the world.

For Galatasaray, who started the tournament with a defeat against Sporting, the Barcelona match means an opportunity to redeem themselves. They will also have the support of the fans. In Istanbul, and in Turkey in general, football (and basketball) cannot be separated from the atmosphere.