Real Madrid travel to Istanbul to face Galatasaray, on Tuesday, in a hope to revive their fate in the ongoing UEFA Champions League. The Spanish side have had a rough start to their European season after suffering an away defeat to PSG and being held by Club Brugge at the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid and Galatasaray have faced each other on seven occasions and have never played a drawn encounter. Madrid have won the tie four times while their opponents have taken victory thrice.
Galatasaray vs Real Madrid: Match Details
Date: October 22, 2019.
Time: 12:30 AM IST (October 23).
Venue: Türk Telekom Stadium.
Galatasaray vs Real Madrid: Team News
Galatasaray
Like today’s opponent, the home team share a similar kind of fate in European competition this season. They, too, have lost one and drawn one and have only a single point to show so far. Also, their star player Radamel Falcao’s fitness issue has only increased the problem for the Lions. The Colombian has been struggling after picking up an Achilles injury.
Midfielders Mario Lemina and Emre Akbaba are also out with injury. While the former has picked up a thigh problem, the later is not expected to return until 2020. However, Christian Luyindama might start today after not being involved for his national team DR Congo during the international break.
Real Madrid
Lurking at the bottom of the group with only one point and fresh from a defeat against a lower-ranked RC Mallorca in La Liga, the Los Blancos will have a tough task ahead of them. Injury issues have worsened the scenario further for the Zinedine Zidane-managed side with Nacho, Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and Marco Asensio among those under the scrutiny of the medical staff.
However, with Toni Kroos set to start alongside Casemiro and Federico Valverde in the midfield Zidane could heave a sigh of relief. Eden Hazard and Dani Carvajal, who missed out the league game against Mallorca, are also likely to start at the Türk Telekom Stadium today.
📝 Our 21-man squad for the match against @Galatasaray!#RMUCL | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/LHRsunJdX9
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) October 20, 2019
Galatasaray vs Real Madrid: Probable Starting XI
Galatasaray: Muslera; Mariano, Donk, Marcao, Nagatomo; N’Zonzi, Seri; Feghouli, Belhanda, Babel; Andone.
Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Casemiro, Rodriguez, Valverde; Isco, Benzema, Hazard.