Real Madrid’s first clean sheet in the Champions League this season saw the Spanish club put one foot into the semi-final at the expense of Turkish side Galatasaray, who face a heap of a task to recover from a 3-0 deficit in the second leg.
The victory also meant that manager Jose Mourinho’s perfect record in the quarter-final stage of this competition was likely to extend further, with the Turks requiring a massive performance at home if they are to achieve what seems improbable.
It was a game not devoid of controversies, as Galatasaray striker was booked for diving when he was stepped on the foot by Sergio Ramos in the penalty area late in the match, denying Galatasaray of what could have been a vital away goal. Other incidents included a vicious tackle from Benzema in which the Frenchman escaped a booking, and a handball decision that could have also gone Galatasaray’s way.
When the two teams meet again in the second leg, manager Fatih Terim will be hoping to continue with the same confidence as his team did in the first leg, although generating a much different result this time around. Football fans from all over the world are well aware of the potential of Didier Drogba and Wesley Sneijder. Perhaps a 3- 0 deficit will just be the kind of challenge that the duo need to overcome in order to remind the world of their class.
Terim will also be hoping his star striker Burak Yalmaz can find his scoring boots for this match, having failed to score in his last two games for the club. Yilmaz’s quality has been very evident this season, the Turkish striker boasts as impressive scoring rate and has notched 28 goals in 32 starts in all competitions this season.
What Terim will be hoping to improve will be Galatasaray’s defensive performance on the big day. Marking will have to be better than it was in the first leg. The biggest threat will obviously come from the competition’s top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo. Hence the focus should be on denying the Portuguese winger from possession as much as possible.
Ronaldo’s first goal at the Santiago Bernabeu was a clear indicator of his class, and Galatasaray would do well by preventing any such situation in which he come close to the goal with the ball at his feet.
Although a manager is expected to have very few words to say to his team after a 3 – 0 loss, Terim’s case may be different as he is managing a side high on confidence and pride, trying to make its mark on the map of Europe and doing a fair job as well. Galatasaray may take inspiration from the UEFA Champions League final a few years ago when Liverpool were down 3 – 0 against AC Milan, yet went on to win the final and hence lift the trophy.
If the two legs of the quarter-final are considered as one match, the final whistle at the Santiago Bernabeu was actually just the announcement of half-time.
Although Galatasaray’s qualification to the next round might sound implausible and derisory at this point, but football has seen a lot of unpredictable happenings in its history.
The Turkish giants have absolutely nothing to lose and should give in their all, so that even if they bow out of the tournament they do with pride.
It was a game not devoid of controversies, as Galatasaray striker was booked for diving when he was stepped on the foot by Sergio Ramos in the penalty area late in the match, denying Galatasaray of what could have been a vital away goal. Other incidents included a vicious tackle from Benzema in which the Frenchman escaped a booking, and a handball decision that could have also gone Galatasaray’s way.
When the two teams meet again in the second leg, manager Fatih Terim will be hoping to continue with the same confidence as his team did in the first leg, although generating a much different result this time around. Football fans from all over the world are well aware of the potential of Didier Drogba and Wesley Sneijder. Perhaps a 3- 0 deficit will just be the kind of challenge that the duo need to overcome in order to remind the world of their class.
Terim will also be hoping his star striker Burak Yalmaz can find his scoring boots for this match, having failed to score in his last two games for the club. Yilmaz’s quality has been very evident this season, the Turkish striker boasts as impressive scoring rate and has notched 28 goals in 32 starts in all competitions this season.
What Terim will be hoping to improve will be Galatasaray’s defensive performance on the big day. Marking will have to be better than it was in the first leg. The biggest threat will obviously come from the competition’s top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo. Hence the focus should be on denying the Portuguese winger from possession as much as possible.
Ronaldo’s first goal at the Santiago Bernabeu was a clear indicator of his class, and Galatasaray would do well by preventing any such situation in which he come close to the goal with the ball at his feet.
Although a manager is expected to have very few words to say to his team after a 3 – 0 loss, Terim’s case may be different as he is managing a side high on confidence and pride, trying to make its mark on the map of Europe and doing a fair job as well. Galatasaray may take inspiration from the UEFA Champions League final a few years ago when Liverpool were down 3 – 0 against AC Milan, yet went on to win the final and hence lift the trophy.
If the two legs of the quarter-final are considered as one match, the final whistle at the Santiago Bernabeu was actually just the announcement of half-time.
Although Galatasaray’s qualification to the next round might sound implausible and derisory at this point, but football has seen a lot of unpredictable happenings in its history.
The Turkish giants have absolutely nothing to lose and should give in their all, so that even if they bow out of the tournament they do with pride.
