Galatasaray vs Club Brugge
Champions League
Date: Tuesday, 26 November 2019
Kick-off at 17:55 UK / 18:55 CET
Venue: Türk Telekom Stadyumu (Istanbul).
Club Brugge requires a set of unlikely results to progress through to the latter stages of this competition for the first time in their history, but it will not stop the Philippe Clement of believing that they can achieve their goals.
Victory for Belgium on Tuesday night, coupled with defeat for Real Madrid against Paris Saint-Germain, will leave Brugge needing to beat the Spanish giants in front of their own fans on matchday six.
Because you've earned a 2-2 draw at the Bernabeu, Clement and his players know that they are capable of causing a monumental surprise, but they still will be vigilant to ensure that they did not let slip the third place in the group.
If Brugge can secure a draw in Istanbul, it will leave Galatasaray need to defeat PSG in Paris next month, something that seems unlikely given their capitulation against Real in the area by far.
On the domestic side, Brugge sit six points clear at the top, despite Friday's 2-0 win over KV Oostende came on the back of a disappointing setback in Antwerp before the international break.
As for Galatasaray, Fatih Terim will be hoping that the three points on Tuesday night can act as a catalyst for improved run of form in all competitions.
While their failure in Europe has been well documented, losing 1-0 at home to Istanbul Basaksehir has left Gala down in seventh place at the top of Turkey.
After Fatih able to put together a strong squad over the summer, below-par performances they have surprised many, but overcome Brugge could cause everything to get back on track towards the second half of the campaign.
Galatasaray News Team
There were wild scenes of joy at the airport to welcome Radamel Falcao, a big marquee signing this summer, to the club. But the Colombian striker has missed most of the campaign so far with injury, making just two starts in the league and two in Europe. He managed one goal in that time, while it looks like a new club really could do with him, especially in Europe. After four games, they have yet to score a single goal - the only team in the competition have not done so.
Turkish Super League champions did not enjoy a successful campaign this year. They are currently eighth in the table, after a 1-0 defeat of last season title challenger Basaksehir Istanbul at the weekend. Five points from the top spot, their focus may be on to get their bid to retain their title back on track, rather than the game in midweek in their competition can not develop.
There is a squad that weird together with players who have been to Europe five league and did not have enough success to stay there, of Borussia Dortmund starlet Emre Mor (now 22) to Jean-Michael Series at Fulham with Southampton Mario Lemina in midfield and former Liverpool forward Ryan Babel up front. Currently, this band seems strange people lacked cohesion.
Club Brugge News Team
Club Brugge only managed one win in their last 18 Champions League games (six draws and 11 defeats), which came away in Monaco last season. It is hard to see their fortunes changed here, even though there were plenty of positives to take from the campaign so far, most will go to Real Madrid and led 2-0 at the Bernabeu (before eventually see the game finished 2-2), while they put in spirit, composed display in their last outing, a 1-0 defeat away to PSG as Ligue 1 champions had to work hard for all three points on the night, after sweeping them aside with a 5-0 away win in the reverse fixture.
Domestic Results have been good, with a 2-0 victory Friday night over KV Oostende their third win in the last four league outings. Currently enjoying Brugge Belgium six points at the top of the division, having played one game less than the chasing pack.
Expect David Okereke forward 22 years to be given the nod ahead, while Emmanuel Bonaventure Dennis - the man who scored the second goal of this Brugge away in Madrid - could be up there with him. Former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet to start between the sticks.
Prediction
Galatasaray have also been eliminated from the Champions League but could still qualify for the Europa League, because they are one point behind third place Club Brugge with two matches remaining.
Club Brugge might have only two points but had held Real Madrid to a 2-2 draw and only lost 1-0 to Paris Saint-Germain last time in competition.
Galatasaray would normally be expected to win this kind of game but they are dealing with a crisis of injuries to key players throughout the field.
There is definitely a positive result out there for Club Brugge on Tuesday, but it's up to them to seize opportunities.
Prediction: Galatasaray 0 1 Club Brugge
