Galatasaray vs. Manchester United: Match Preview- 20/11/12

VENUE: Turk Telekom Arena, Istanbul.

KO TIME: 19.45 GMT (1.15 am IST)

                The Turkish side welcome EPL giants Manchester United on Tuesday in their next Champions League Group H fixture. Galatasaray need all three points to keep their qualification hopes alive. They have four points from games and are on the third place now.

                Both the sides play each other after losing to average teams. Galatasaray lost to Karabukspor and United lost to Norwich at the weekend. United won 1-0 at Old Trafford when the two sides met in the first leg with Michael Carrick scoring the lone goal.

TEAM FORM:

Galatasaray: LDWWW
Galatasaray 1-3 Kardemir Karabuk
Mersin Idam Yurdu 1-1 Galatasaray

CFR Cluj 1-3 Galatasaray

Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor 1-2 Galatasaray

Galatasaray 3-0 Kayserispor

Manchester United: LWWWL

Norwich City 1-0 Manchester United

Aston Villa 2-3 Manchester United

Braga 1-3 Manchester United

Manchester United 2-1 Arsenal

Chelsea 5-4 Manchester United

TEAM NEWS:

Galatasaray: Sabri Sarioglu is not fit for the match. Johan Elmander might be on the bench after making a comeback on the weekend after a thigh problem.

Manchester United: Nemanja Vidic and Luis Nani are both not available for the game with Knee and Hamstring injuries respectively. Phil Jones might start who was named on the bench against Norwich. Wayne Rooney, who missed the action against the Canaries, could probably start.

PREVIOUS MEETING:

Manchester United 1-0 Galatasaray

                Manchester United won 1-0 at Old Trafford when the two sides met earlier, thanks to Michael Carrick’s goal.

                The two sides last met in Turkey in the year 1993, when Sir Alex Ferguson’s side were eliminated from the competition after a 0-0 draw. The match saw the home fans bringing ‘Welcome to Hell’ banners. The match will always be remembered.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS:

Galatasaray: Muslera; Eboue, Cris, Nounkeu, Balta; Altintop, Inan, Melo; Bulut¸ Yilmaz, Amrabat.

Manchester United: De Gea; Rafael, Smalling, Jones, Buttner; Anderson, Carrick, Cleverley; Rooney, Hernandez, Welbeck.

PREDICTION:

                It will be difficult for Manchester United to win the game easily looking at their Defensive crisis. Wayne Rooney’s return will be a huge boost for The Reds.

PICK: Galatasaray 1-2 Manchester United

MATCH FACTS:

·         Four of Manchester United’s nine goals in the group have come in the last 15 minutes of matches.

·         Galatasaray have scored four goals in the Champions League so far in this season. All goals scored by Yilmaz.

·         The last time Manchester United faced Galatasaray in Turkey in 1993, Sir Alex’s side crashed out of the competition after a goalless draw.

·         United have secured the top spot of Group H after winning all four of their matches.

MAN TO WATCH:

Galatasaray: Burak Yilmaz

Manchester United: Javier Hernandez