Turkish traditional The heavyweight Galatasary will draw inspiration from his past European success while facing a Barcelona renaissance in the European Round of 16 match Thursday.
The Lions, who won the 2000 UEFA Cup, they are having one of the worst seasons in They history, currently struggling in the twelfth position in the Turkish Super Lig. And they will face a boat side who has rejuvenated underneath new coach Xavi Hernandez.
Five-time European champions Barcelona, however, are still adapting to an unfamiliar environment of secondary of the continent competition after the crash out of the Champions in the group phase for the first time in 18 years.
It overlooks Galatasaray at the Camp Nou on the back of his best run of the season after four wins in in a row, including an impressive 4-2 win in transfer to Naples in the previous round.
It is third in La Liga and did not lose in the league from December, powered by a busy January market window in who signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Arsenal, Ferran Torres and Adama Traore.
Aubameyang and Torres scored seven goals between them in by Barca last five games.
“We have four wins in one line and this did not happen for a long time, “he said coach Xavi Hernandez on Sunday. “The players believe in what are we doing. We are on the right path. “
The Europa League is still Barcelona’s only realistic hope of winning A trophy this season and there remains a defensive fragility it will offer opponents encouragement.
But the Barca will be heavy favorite against a Galatasaray side who has struggled recently, only winning twice in his last 15 matches.
King of the Europa League
In the other tempting tie of the roundSevilla, specialist in Europa League, hosts English side West Ham in the first leg.
Seville, who has won Europa League four times in the last eight seasons, it will be face a West Ham side who is fighting for a trophy.
The possibilities of the Hammers of finish in the first four of the Premier League slips via, with Arsenal are now the favorite to secure the final Spot in Champions League and even Tottenham and United continue to fight.
West Ham captain Mark Noble said his team is fighting performance in the 1-0 defeat to Liverpool last Saturday would restore confidence after a rocky period patch in what they were also knocked out of the FA Cup.
“That performance want give us A lot of belief and we hope we can carry it in Europa League now, “Noble said on the club’S website.
“It’s exciting and we hope we can perform like this is because Sevilla are a top team and we will need to perform well.”
The shadow of of Russia invasion of Ukraine will hang itself over Thursday matches with the tie between Spartak Moscow and RB Leipzig was canceled, although the Football Union of Russia appealed to the court of Arbitration for Sport on He seeks to overturn the UEFA ban on Tuesday on his club playing in European competition.
