Galatasaray will host Spanish giant Barcelona tomorrow in the second week of the UEFA Champions League.
The yellow-red team, which started the Giants League directly from the 36-team league stage, lost 3-1 away to Portuguese representative Sporting in its first match. Barcelona beat Feyenoord 5-1 in its first match in the Champions League this season.
GALATASARAY ANALYSIS FROM MUNDO DEPORTIVO
Aslan will face Barcelona tomorrow in their second match of the group stage. Before this giant match, Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo warned the Spanish giant about Galatasaray in the analysis it compiled. Here is that evaluation;
"Galatasaray is waiting for Barça's visit once again tomorrow. Four years and a few months after that 2022 Europa League round of 16 rematch, which ended with a 1-2 victory thanks to the contributions of Aubameyang and Pedri, who performed a masterful performance, Barcelona is returning to the Ali Sami Yen Sports Complex.
The Turkish team, coached at the time by Domènec Torrent and currently coached by Okan Buruk, plays a game based on the pressure on the field and the support of passionate, even hostile fans.
'NEITHER JUVENTUS NOR ATLETICO COULD WIN HERE'
In its stadium with a capacity of 53,978 people, the Turkish team has not been defeated since the defeat against Fenerbahçe (0-1) on May 19, 2024. It hasn't been long since Europe suffered its last defeat in this stadium. They lost to Union Saint-Gilloise (0-1) on the fifth matchday of the group stage on 25 November 2025, but it is worth remembering that last season neither Juventus (5-2), nor Liverpool (1-0) nor Atlético Madrid (1-0) could win at this stadium.
'A SUCKING PRESSURE'
This enthusiastic atmosphere is reflected on the field as well, and players tend to put suffocating pressure on the opponent on the field. Their style of play is based on an attacking approach based on field dominance and the constant search for depth. The team usually plays in a 4-2-3-1 formation, thus being able to maintain balance, ball circulation and width on the wings; Although these are the elements that their coaches emphasize, they are not always successful. The first few matches of the Super League confirm that this tactical setup is frequently used.
OSIMHEN WARNING
Players such as Leroy Sané, Rafael Leão, Yunus Akgün and Barış Alper Yılmaz offer options for running inwards from the wings, attacking spaces and creating numerical superiority on the wings. In the penalty area, Victor Osimhen, who recovered from his groin injury and made the most of his first minutes with an assist in the Kasımpaşa match (3-1), contributes to fast transitions and off-the-ball movements. According to the news from Turkey, he will be in the first 11. The Nigerian player is mentioned with Barcelona as an alternative to Julián Álvarez.
In the midfield, Lucas Torreira adds intensity to one-on-one battles, while Gabriel Sara, who forms a solid duo with him, stands out with his contribution to the offensive setup. Okan Buruk has the experience of former Barcelona player İlkay Gündoğan, who reads the game very well, although he does not get much playing time. He was on the field for only 11 minutes in total; five of these occurred in the Champions League match against Sporting in Lisbon (3-1). Defensively, Galatasaray tries to win the ball back quickly without complicating things unnecessarily. The centre-back duo, consisting of players such as Davinson Sánchez and Abdülkerim Bardakcı, works hard to protect the penalty area and control the progress of opposing players. Although the primary duty of wing-backs Barış Alper Yılmaz and Jakobs is to go forward, they will not have many opportunities in this regard due to Gordon, Adeyemi and Lamine being in the squad.
'THEY SCORED 11 GOALS IN 6 MATCHES'
However, the first results of the season reveal that they conceded 11 goals in the first 6 matches of the league, including a 4-0 defeat against Trabzonspor. Their biggest challenge is to ensure that their offensive ambitions do not jeopardize their offensive strength.
