Galatasaray – FC Copenhagen
Champions League Group Stage Game 1
Istanbul, August 20, 18:45 CET
Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen have accustomed the fans to matches with a large number of goals - and they have an excellent opportunity for a new one in a direct duel at the start of the group stage in the Champions League.
The home team in Istanbul is in exceptional form. Galatasaray lost in a friendly match more than two months ago, against Austrian Sturm 2:0 (match played on July 18). Since then, the Turkish giant has played ten games and achieved a record of eight wins and two draws.
In those ten matches, Galatasaray players managed to score 21 goals - and they conceded seven. It is clear that this is a team that is extremely strengthened by numerous stars from the strongest European leagues. They now want to play even more dominantly in attack. The victories over Samsunspor 4:2 (last weekend) and away from Gaziantep 3:0 (September 2) show the attacking potential of the Okan Buruk team.
With stars like Italian Icardi and Belgian Mertens in attack, great Moroccan attacking midfielder Ziyech, and South Americans Tete and Torreira in the middle of the field – Galatasaray is a team that wants to dominate from the start, especially in front of their fans.
FC Copenhagen, the Danish champion, will certainly not play with a plan to defend in this match. The leader of the Danish Superliga has behind them the most difficult visit against the biggest competitor in the domestic league Nordsjaelland (2:2), the game that was played the previous weekend. Thus, an important test was passed for the team, which is most dangerous when threatens on the counterattack.
In the last eight matches played by the club from Copenhagen, since the middle of August, even five times it happened that both teams scored a goal. FC Copenhagen has obvious problems in defense when playing in games where they are not clear favourites. It is now likely that both teams will manage to score a goal in the match in Istanbul - and even more likely, that we will see three or more goals in the game.
It is important to point out that the guests from Denmark are completely relieved, and that they don't play with the need to achieve a good result when they play away in the Champions League. The placing in the group stage itself is a success for them. They are very dangerous in that kind of matches, and will certainly threaten from the counterattack and manage to create a decent number of chances.
In October 2013, in the Champions League, these teams played a match in Istanbul - then the result was 3:1 for Galatasaray. Now both teams are objectively better quality than ten years ago.
The home team will play on Wednesday with all important players rested and healthy. FC Copenhagen has one serious problem – the question is whether, due to a minor injury, an important player, forward Andreas Cornelius, will be able to play. Interestingly, Cornelius played in Turkey for Trabzonspor for more than one season and made an excellent impression. His experience of playing a match in Istanbul against Galatasaray, in a great atmosphere that will be provided by the fans of the home team, would be extremely meaningful and help the guests.
Galatasaray remains the favorite to win, but counting on the problems in the defense of the powerful Turkish team, FC Copenhagen may surprise. Therefore, an overall efficient match with a high number of goals is a more certain outcome.