Preview: Gala's defensive frailties will once again be put to the test on Saturday
After signing Didier Drogba and Wesley Sneijder last season, Galatasaray's run through Europe was quite impressive, and exciting to say the least. Watching their fans enjoy every second of the match was a sight to see.
On Saturday, the Turkish fans will get to witness an entertaining match, between two sides trying to sort out their weaknesses before domestic football begins in the coming weeks.
Fatih Terim is in his third stint with the club, and knows that although a friendly pre-season tournament, a positive performance in the Emirates Cup could really go a long way for his players. In order to come out of this two day tournament with a positive outlook, Gala will need to put on a better showing than they did in their last friendly match against Napoli.
Needing to bounce back from that match is a must, and although Terim is an experienced manager, his team's trust in Drogba, Sneijder and Yilmaz will have to expand to their up and coming players.
Moroccan midfielder Nordin Amrabat showed against Napoli that although he has not shown his full talent in Istanbul, the creative midfielder can and should be a fundamental piece for the Turkish side this season, and in this tournament.
One other motivating factor for Aslan will be the return to the Emirates for former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue. His departure from the Emirates did not end in the greatest fashion, but the Ivorian still holds the Gunners in his heart. He will be looking to show Arsenal fans what they've been missing, against a Porto side that will certainly cause problems for him and his teammates.
Under a new manager, Paulo Fonseca, Porto fans are not really sure what to expect in the coming season. Yes Fonseca did a great job leading Paços de Ferreira to a third place finish, resulting in a Champions League birth, but how will he do at a bigger club, with more exposure and pressure?
That remains to be seen, but after a few signings, this Porto side has the ability to really pick apart Galatasaray's suspect back line. With Jackson Martinez as the go to guy in their offense, a poor defensive showing like the one against Napoli could result in an embarrassing first match of the tournament.
Where to watch the match - live stream, start time, TV channels
Watch Galatasaray vs Porto live:
In the USA at 9:00 ET on: ESPN Deportes, ESPN3
Fans in African nations can watch this Emirates Cup match on SuperSport 3 Africa. Watching the match from elsewhere? Check out our match page for full TV listings for this opening match of the Emirates Cup.
