Europa League : Fenerbahce vs Lazio

Fenerbahce will face Lazio fron Italy....  

  

Lazio and Fenerbahce, who have both been in trouble with UEFA over fan behaviour, were paired in another tie while Tottenham Hotspur, the only one of the quarter-finalists to have won the trophy, face FC Basel with the first leg in London.

Fenerbahce, at home in the first leg against Lazio,   had to stage their last 16 second leg against Viktoria Plzen on Thursday behind closed doors after their fans set off fireworks during a previous home match against BATE Borisov.

Serie A side Lazio will play the second leg in an empty stadium in Rome as they complete a two-match sanction for racist behaviour Of fans, poor organisation and firework-throwing during the group stage match against Borussia Moenchengladbach.

It was Lazio's fourth racism offence this season.

The first legs will be played on April 4 and the second legs on April 11. 

Source : Reuters 

Champions League quarter-final draw :Real Madrid vs Galatasaray

Real Madrid, who beat Manchester United to advance to the last eight, will face  Galatasaray. 

The match will see Jose Mourinho, the manager of the nine-times champions,

come up against former players Didier Drogba and Wesley Sneijder, 

who he coached at Chelsea and Inter Milan respectively.

Two friends Mourinho and Terim will face each other at the quarter-finals.

It is very difficult draw for Galatasaray but, Fatih Terim likes diffucult matches .

First leg match will be in  Madrid, Spain.


Champions League draw...

Malaga v Borussia Dortmund

Real Madrid v Galatasaray

PSG v Barcelona

Bayern Munich v Juventus

The matches will take place on 2nd/3rd April (1st Leg) and 9th/10th April (2nd Leg)

Fenerbahce still cautious

A cautious Fenerbahce coach, Aykut Kocaman, told a press conference that his team would still have to work hard to win the second leg match in Istanbul, after defeating 1-0   Viktoria Plzen in the first leg of the Europa League round of 16 tie.

At the press conference Ayku Kocaman said you can't win matches without playing, even though we have the away goal advantage "

"You have to go out there and play  the game as a team"

Question from Czech journalist , "Are you afraid of tomorrow's match" 


Was answered by Aykut Kocaman with a bit a smile on his face " Yes , to tell you truth, Yes I do feel a bit of afraid "


In the beginning of his press conference, Aykut Kocaman congratulate Galatasaray team.

He said , "Galatasaray did the hard thing and went through"


Fenerbahce will be without their fans in the stands...


UEFA has rejected Fenerbahce's appeal against playing in an empty stadium on Thursday because fans delayed an earlier closed-door match by parachuting in fireworks.

The 12th man not being there , will hurt Fenerbahce  financially  and not having the fan support in the stands too!

*Fenerbahçe have won two of their last three European home games without conceding, but are far from invulnerable in Istanbul, having lost the other match in that run 3-0 to VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach.

*Fenerbahçe have reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League (2007/08) and UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1963/64) but are making their debut in the last 16 of this competition.


Fenerbahce with one foot in , they could well qualified  to next round  if they play as a team..

Players like Dirk Kuyt  could help with his experience.....


Fenerbahce vs Plzen match will start at 4.05 PM,ET on Thursday , March 14th,2013

Do or Die Match for Galatasaray!

Advantage  on Schalke side but we have to remember Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim's  words!

"We are not done until we say  the last word!"

With that spirit, I am sure Terim should be big factor in the lockers room before the match at the half and from the sidelines....

Plus, Galatasaray will have Drogba and Sneijder along with Burak Yilmaz on the field.


Chelsea legend Drogba, who celebrated his birthday on Monday, could well be big factor in this match.

If we look at the recent stats, we see Schalke is the better side...

Galatasaray, hasn't done that good since the first leg match in Turkey!

Schalke will be without  Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Jermaine Jones


If Wesley Sneijder play on his original position,  Galatasaray's offense  will work better!

He needs to play behind the striker  not on left side of the field.

Recent form

Schalke: LLDWWW

Galatasaray: WWDWDL

Possible starting lineups

Schalke: Hildebrand; Hoger, Howedes, Matip, Kolasinac; Jones, Neustadter, Farfan, Draxler, Bastos; Huntelaar

Galatasaray: Muslera; Sabri Sarioglu, Nounkeu, Semih Kaya; Riera, Altintop, Melo, Selcuk Inan, Sneijder; Burak Yilmaz, Drogba

Both teams are focused ....

Don't be surprise if Galatasaray makes it to quarter-finals with dramatic way!

The 12th man in the stadium almost will be equal , where a lot of German-Turks will support Galatasaray.

Galatasaray will be without Johan Elmander....

At the press conference  Fatih Terim said , "We know we are up against a strong opponent but I am confident we will win tomorrow. I trust my team. Drogba and Sneijder will play tomorrow."

Drogba and Sneijder  has to show they are the clutch players to Fatih Terim!

Would they?

I think, so !

Drogba always like the spotlight in the Champions League ....

Match Date\Time: 8:45 p.m. local, 7:45 p.m. BST, 3:45 p.m. ET

Venue: Stadion Gelsenkirchen, Gelsenkirchen, Germany

TV: FOX Soccer Plus (U.S.), Sky Sports 2 (U.K.), Sportsnet World (Canada), Sky Sport 2 HD (Germany), NTV Spor, Star TV (Turkey.)

Online: FOX Soccer 2Go (U.S.), Sky Go (U.K.)

Tough draw for Galatasaray at home ! 1-1

Drogba impressed on his Champions League debut for Galatasaray. Photo: REUTERS

Schalke walked out as a happier team tonight after  a 1-1 draw against Galatasaray.

Galatasaray started the match really good with Sneijder and Drogba starting in the lineup .

Galatasaray scored first with  Drogba and Selcuk Inan's work to Burak Yilmaz and Burak Yilmaz finishing it rocket shot on goal !

After the goal for about ten, fifteen minutes, both team had their chances...

Schalke's Huntelaar's huge miss just by the post and Galatasaray's Hamit Altintop's shot hitting the bar and Drogba's shot was saved by Schalke keeper Hildabrand.


Galatasaray  was the better side until the very last minute of the first half!

Just before the brake Schalke, scored on a breakaway thanks to very poor defending by Galatasaray team.

American player Jermaine Jones beat Muslera and Galatasaray defenders after getting a beautiful cross from Farfan.

In the  beginning of the second half Fatih Terim pulled Wesley Sneijder!

In the second half both of the teams had chances but just could not cash it in,

So, with this 1-1 draw score , looks like Schalke is in the driving seat....

Even Fatih Terim after the match , recognized that...

He said, "Schalke has the advantage on us now.All we have to do is play very hard in the second leg match in Germany "

Meanwhile, Burak Yilmaz who scored Galatasaray goal, has seven goals in the Champion League ,

He is tied with Cristian Ronaldo...

Next three weeks will be very crucial  time for Galatasaray and Fatih Terim ..

The trio on top ,Drogba,Sneijder and Burak Yilamz has to jello better and  he has too fix the defense somehow!

That is the biggest hole for Galatasaray!

But, Galatasaray will not go down easy in Germany...

As Terim said it before, It is not over until it is over......

AHMET TURGUT
www.turkishsocccer.com

Galatasaray host Schalke 04

Turkey's only team in the UEFA's Champions League , Galatasaray  hosting Schalke 04 ,today in Istanbul.

The match will take place in Turk Telekom Arena and kick off time is at 9,45 Pm, local Istanbul time( 2.45, ET )

Tonight's game will be Galatasaray's 244th game in Europa cups.

Out of 243 games, Galatasaray had 93 victories, 87 defeats and 63 draws, scoring 341 and conceding 343 goals

With Drogba and Sneijder playing first time last weekend in the Turkish Super League match for about 25 minutes against rock bottom team Akhisar!

At the press conference , Fatih Terim  warned Turkish media about Schalke 04...

There is big interest around the world to this match since Drogba and Sneijder playing for Galatasaray in the Champions League...

This is fact,  Galatasaray will be watched and followed bu many football fans around the world !

 You like him or not ,Galatasaray CEO Unal Aysal and his committee , did something it is almost unthinkable!

Their vision brought these two very important world class players to Galatasaray...

They deserve a lot of credit for this!

 Even though some still argue and say, "coach Fatih Terim did not want Drogba or Sneijder !"

What ever the case is , Unal Aysal's vision brought Galatasaray from dark ...

Just remember , where Galatasaray was at before they came in the power!

Fatih Terim's leadership on the field and Unak Aysal's  vision as a CEO, gave Galatasaray new look 

and now, they are most talked about Turkish team in the world again.

Lastly,  Galatasaray defense is the only question mark , in my opinion.....

The defense has to have flawless  match today against ,Schalke 04...

Drogba, Sneijder, Yilmaz, up front  and Hamit Altintop and Selcuk Inan will be factors in tonight's match!

Ahmet Turgut

Turkishsoccer.com

Turkish Delight for Drogba

A night to be remembered by Drogba and Turkish football fans in Turkey on Friday night in a small city called Manisa, just outside of Izmir .

Drogba made his debut as a sub in the second half and within 5 minutes of his entry he chanced the score and style of Galatasaray's play!

Even Wesley Sneijder  who started his second match in Turkey came to live once Drogba went in to the match...

Until then, Galatasaray was struggling to rock bottom of the league ,Akhisar Belediye!

It was nonsense to keep a player like Drogba on the bench !

But,  Fatih Terim decided not to start him, what ever is the reason.....

Galatasaray fans in front of the screen and fans in the stadium was sweating really bad until Drogba's goal!

The world football's legend made a sensational header goal  after being on the pitch for only five minutes,,

Burak Yilmaz  gave him  a beautiful cross on his goal!


With him coming in to the match , Drogba,Sneijder and Burak Yilmaz trio was cranking ....

Two minutes later from first goal, Sneijder gave the ball to Drogba ,he went around few and took a shot and ball was deflected  and Burak Yilmaz scored the second goal for Galatasaray!

Clutch player Drogba, totally changed the mood of the match and relieved a lot of Galatasaray fans who were biting their nails!

After going up two goals, there were few good Drogba passes to Burak Yilmaz but Burak Yilmaz could not finish it .

Rock bottom team of Turkish Super League, surprised Galatasaray defense in the 85th minute with Sertan Vardar and made theh score 1-2!

Wesley Sneijder came out in the 79th  minute of the match...

I don't know why Terim, decided to pull him off!

That trio triangle was working perfect on top .....

Akhisar's goal weapon Greek soccer player Gekas had a huge miss before, Droga's debut!

Actually , wood works saved his shot and Galatasaray ,,,,,,,

But at the end, Galatasaray was lucky and with Drogba's debut has won this match.

This match was final tune-up match before the Champions League match against Schalke 04 on February 20th at Turk Telekom Arena in Istabul,Turkey.


It will be tough one !

******************************************

Around The Turkish Super League.......

On Saturday, Eskisehir loss to Kayseri at home (0-3)  Antalya draw at home against  Karabuk(0-0)  and Besiktas draw at home against Gaziantep (1-1)

Besiktas was winning 1-0 until last minute of the match...

Very bad mistake by Besiktas defense, cost Besiktas big time....
This loss of points might hound Besiktas later on in the race for the Championship!

On Sunday, the match of the week will take place in Trabzon where Ttrabzonspor host Fenerbahce

This is a huge match !

Also on Sunday, Genclerbirligi host Mersin in Ankara, Bursaspor host Elazigspor in Bursa and Ordu host Istanbul Buyuksehir,

 Very importnat matches for basment teams Elazig and Mersin.....

They have to win their matches a loss for both teams could spell danger in the coming weeks...

On Monday, week 22, will close with Kasimpas vs Sivas match .

Galatasaray sit on top of the Turkish Super League with 43 points after round 22....

On Sunday, Fenerbahce could capture the second place from Besiktas if they beat Trabzonspor.

That is why this match  between Trabzonspor and Fenerbahce on Sunday is huge.

A loss for Trabzon could spell danger for Trabzon!


AHMET B TURGUT