There was contrasting matchday five news for Arsenal FC and Galatasaray AŞ, the English club booking their place in the round of 16 while their Turkish opponents fourth successive defeat confirmed their elimination. Now Arsenal travel to Istanbul needing a win to have a chance of overtaking section leaders Borussia Dortmund. Who can go through? • In the reverse fixture on 1 October, a Danny Welbeck hat-trick helped Arsène Wenger celebrate his 18th anniversary with a 4-1 victory. Alexis Sánchez was also on target while Burak Yılmaz pulled one back from the penalty spot for Galatasaray following Wojciech Szczęsnys dismissal. Previous meetings • The teams only previous meeting before matchday two came in the 1999/2000 UEFA Cup final in Copenhagen. Galatasaray won 4-1 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes, becoming the first Turkish team to win a UEFA competition. • The lineups at the Parken Stadium on 17 May 2000 were: Galatasaray: Taffarel, Bülent, Capone, Popescu, Ergün, Okan Buruk (Hakan 83), Suat (Yildirim 95), Hagi, Ümit Davala, Arif (Hasan 95), Hakan Şükür. Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Keown, Adams, Sylvinho, Parlour, Vieira, Petit, Overmars (Šuker 115), Henry, Bergkamp (Kanu 75). Match background Galatasaray • The Turkish Super League runners-up met English opponents in last seasons competition, drawing 1-1 at home to Chelsea FC in the round of 16 before losing 2-0 away. • They are undefeated in their last five home games against English visitors, winning three and drawing two. They failed to win any of the first four such fixtures, recording two defeats and two draws. • Cimboms home record against Premier League sides is W3 D4 L2; overall it is W3 D8 L9. • At home in this seasons group stage Galatasaray needed an added-time equaliser from Burak Yılmaz to rescue a point against RSC Anderlecht. That was followed by a 4-0 loss against Dortmund. The 2-0 loss in Brussels last time out stretched the Turkish teams winless European run to seven matches. • Galatasaray, who have nevertheless lost only four of their last 20 European home matches, are in their 13th group stage campaign and their third in succession, having missed out in the five seasons before that. Arsenal • The Gunners have never lost over 90 minutes to Turkish sides and the matchday two fixture was only the second time the Gunners have conceded goals in ten meetings. The other occasion was a 2008/09 group stage fixture at Fenerbahçe SK which they won 5-2. • Their overall record is W6 D4 L0 (W2 D2 L0 in Istanbul). • Arsenal have eliminated Super League rivals in each of the last two UEFA Champions League play-off rounds. This season they beat Beşiktaş JK 1-0 at home after a 0-0 draw away with Sánchez scoring his first goal for the club. • Last season they beat Fenerbahçe SK 3-0 in Istanbul and 2-0 in London. • Arsenal will win the group with any victory if Dortmund lose at home to Anderlecht, or if the Gunners win by enough to overtake BVB on overall goal difference or goals scored (a minimum margin of six) should the other game be drawn. • This is the 15th season in succession that Arsène Wengers side have reached the knockout rounds. Coach and player links • Mesut Özils parents and grandparents are originally from the Turkish city of Zonguldak. He scored in Germanys 3-0 win over Turkey at the Olympiastadion on 8 October 2010. • Former team-mates: Aurélien Chedjou and Mathieu Debuchy (LOSC Lille, 2007–13) Hamit Altıntop and Özil, (FC Schalke 04, 2006/07) Aurélien Chedjou and Santi Cazorla (Villarreal B, 2002/03) Altıntop and Lukas Podolski (FC Bayern München, 2007–09)
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 09:16:16 +0000
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