Galatasaray Istanbul welcomes FC Liverpool in the first home game of the Champions League season. A crucial question could be clarified in the football capital of Türkiye on Tuesday. Namely, whether the more than 100 million euros that “Gala” invested in the squad this year are enough to really play in the concert of the “big ones”.
Because Galatasaray wants to finally belong to this ensemble. After three dominant championships in a row under coach Okan Buruk, the Champions League is now the parquet, and finally wants to cause a sensation again on the gala after twelve years without a ko game. The first appearance this season was also furious, but not as desired: At Eintracht Frankfurt, the team around Leroy Sané and Ilkay Gündogan went 1: 5 (1: 3).
Completely indisposed, the Turkish champion presented himself in Frankfurt, especially on the defensive and was less lively and fast -minded than the “biliary” harmony in every respect. Three goals conceded after flanks, in which the defense was poorly assigned, two more there were Eintracht after aggressive counterpressing and the resulting slight ball losses.
Hurried in the league, in the CL under unusual pressure
The lack of striker superstar Victor Osimhen at the time could not be considered an excuse for this, which would definitely not have participated in the build-up game from his own chain of four or increasingly defending flanks. In the second leg against Liverpool, the Nigerian is likely to be an option for the formation. At the weekend in the league, the gala with 21 points from seven games and only two goals so far dominated at will without playfully dominated, at least once again, Osimhen got a short assignment.
The defects in flanks and against good counterpressing hardly come to light in the Süper Lig. The difference in quality is too big compared to almost all of the competition. It doesn’t hurt that some newcomers like Sané do not yet play the main role that you expect. At over 60 percent possession of the ball, Gala brings it on average in the home league – more than, for example, FC Bayern in the Bundesliga and as much as the upcoming opponent Liverpool in the Premier League.
Only aggressively and under pressure at the highest level, the BuruK team is almost never in the league – that should definitely be different against Liverpool. Arne Slot’s team regularly met in the last games after high balls or flanks.
Against Liverpool clear underdog – but the claim is high
Against Frankfurt, Sané and Co. also had over 60 percent of the time in their own ranks. In the duel with the ball-dominant Premier League head leader, this is also likely to change with certainty. So a completely new and exciting situation.
Now Galatasaray is the clear crescent at home in terms of transfers, but compared to Liverpool FC, the almost 150 million euros are almost peanuts. As is well known, the English champion spent almost 500 million euros in summer for Hugo Ekitiké, Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Co. Gala is the clear underdog against Liverpool – this should also be (almost) aware of every passionate fan of the 25 -time master. But your own claims think presupposes that you can at least keep up with the very big ones – and the team must provide this proof on Tuesday after the debacle against Frankfurt.
Reds defeat Against Crystal Palace encourages fans
And that means: do not go down, show a strong idea, inspire fans and ideally perhaps also steal a point. After all, Liverpool lost for the first time this season – the 1-2 against Crystal Palace showed that the Reds are by no means unbeatable. The slot team also has not yet reached the canteen this season. Even with the group winner of the last CL group phase, some new additions, especially Florian Wirtz, still have slight start problems.
As soon as the 1: 2 whistled against Crystal Palace, you found optimistic reactions from Galatasaray fans directly on social networks, who sporty, in the Premier League, saw the incriminating fa-cup winner Palace in the Premier League and looked at their chances for the duel with the Reds accordingly.
Four victories as a minimum goal – Liverpool as a “dress rehearsal”?
Each team has eight games to play in the large Champions League group phase. Last year, eleven points and a goal difference of -4 were enough for participation in the playoffs and 24th place out of 36.
So four victories are likely to be the minimum goal for every team that registers serious demands on a role in the “concert of the big ones”. After Liverpool, Gala still meets Bodo Glimt, Ajax Amsterdam, Union Saint-Gilloise, AS Monaco, Atletico Madrid and Manchester City. Four threes are by no means impossible because even with a defeat against Liverpool. However, they are definitely not guaranteed.
Even if a dramatic class difference and a corresponding result should be seen on the scoreboard on Tuesday, it should be restless at the Bosphorus – and it would also be over at some point. It is the next baptism of fire for the ambitious team and it is not allowed to burn again.