Galatasaray AS will face FC Schalke 04 in the last 16 of the Champions League. Read our in depth article about this Champions League last 16 matchup
Galatasaray AS – FC Schalke 04
First leg: Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi, Istanbul. Wednesday, February 20.
Second leg: Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen. Tuesday, March 12.
For too long, Galatasary have been best known for the ferocious commitment of their fans, perhaps this is the season they will produce a cup-winning run to delight them. The way they turned around a bad start to Group H with wins against Braga and Manchester United suggests that maybe they can.
Schalke though will be stiff opposition, even in Istanbul. The German side haven’t lost away in Europe for nine matches. But if momentum counts for anything, then The Royal Blues have an uphill struggle: they entered the German winter break on a seven match winless streak and with a new coach Jens Keller only just installed.
The contrast with Galatasary couldn’t be any starker. Fatih Terim has been coaching his side off and on since 1996 and before that he wore their red and yellow shirt as a player for 11 years.
But German sides have a good record against the Turkish champions, who have only won twice against 12 Bundesliga visitors at home. The last time they beat a German side in Istanbul was way back in 1992 when Eintracht Frankfurt lost 1-0 in the UEFA Cup.
Schalke have only travelled to Turkey twice, drawing on both occasions. But the Blues do have the better recent Champions League pedigree. As recently as 2010-11 they were semi finalists, seeing off Inter Milan 7-3 over two legs in the quarter-finals before a humbling 6-1 aggregate loss to Manchester United ended their campaign.
Galatasary are seeking their first quarter final tie since 2001 when Real Madrid were too strong for them, despite a first leg win in Turkey.
One of only four teams to negotiate the group stage unbeaten, FC Schalke 04 now have their sights set on a repeat of their run to the semi-finals in the 2010/11 competition.
Schalke must forget their league woes and return to the form that saw them finish their group unbeaten with youngster Lewis Holtby starring and attracting suitors who may take him away from the club even before this tie – Tottenham are favourites to land his signature. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, with four goals in six games, was also in the sights of some English clubs and Schalke’s fans are relieved he’s just signed a new deal.
Galatsaray may not have the big star names, but in Burak Yılmaz they have the tournament’s current joint top scorer, whose hat-trick against CFR was vital in turning around a disastrous start. Moroccan midfielder Nordin Amrabat is another talent to watch.
Head to Head
Galatasaray AS
League position on February 4
First
Last five games
W, L, D, W, W
Odds
13/7
Schalke 04
League position on February 4
Sixth
Last five games
L, L, W, D, L
Odds
7/4
Odds on Draw
22/9
Check out the other Champions League last 16 matchups :
Celtic Glasgow vs Juventus
Valencia CF vs Paris Saint-Germain
FC Shakhtar Donetsk v Borussia Dortmund
Real Madrid CF v Manchester United FC
Arsenal FC – FC Bayern München
FC Porto v Málaga CF
AC Milan v FC Barcelona