Real Madrid vs Galatasaray ,UEFA Champions League 2013-14 ,Preview

Champions League Group Stage

Thursday, 28 November, 1:30 am (NST)

Santiago Bernabéu

It will only take a draw at Santiago Bernabeu for Real Madrid to make it into the last 16 of the Champions League when they welcome Galatasaray at home on Wednesday’s late night group B encounter. But the hosts recent match form suggests, the Turkish will have a lot to defend. Real Madrid have scored more than 20 goals in their last 5 matches in all competitions.

Galatasaray were beaten on their home turf the last time the two teams played with a score line of 6-1. A Real thrashing at home for Turkish team.

The Spanish team currently lead the table by six points in group B , a courtesy of their three wins and a draw against Juventus; in as many as four matches played so far and will need only a point to advance further in pursuit of La Decima.

Real Madrid have fallen short of the trophy for last 14 years reaching in the last four stages in consecutive occasion.

Ancelotti feels that the 10th title is a motivation as he speaks;

“The 10th European Cup is not an obsession, but a motivation,” he told The Times.

“For the club it’s very important. The last time Real Madrid played in the final was 2002. For a club like Real Madrid this is not good.”

Given the injury to Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored a hat-trick against the Turkish two months ago, the Turkish team might feel to score level against the Spanish giants under the new management of Roberto Mancini.

This is what Mancini told who turns 49 on the eve of the match day; to UEFA.com:

"Galatasaray are a very good team who have the potential to do well this season.

"It's never easy in the Champions League and our group is particularly tough. However, we can progress.

"I'm still confident of qualifying. We need to improve as a team but I am hopeful of a good result in our next game against Real Madrid.

"Then we will have everything to play for at home to Juventus on 10 December. As they say in football, never say never."

 The Turkish champions can boost their chances of qualification to next round in the Champions League, if they come away from the Santiago Bernabeu with a draw or better.

Currently, Galatasaray are in the second place in the table in group B rankings but will be well aware of the urgency of win in tomorrow’s match with the Los Blancos.

For Real Madrid, a big threat is the injury of their star player Cristiano Ronaldo and the duo of Fabio Coentrao and German international Sami Khedira who will remain side-lined for six months.

In the absence of Ronaldo, young sensation Jesé Rodriguez may get the much awaited game in the Champions league with Illaramendi in place of Angel Di Maria to start the match.

Meanwhile for the visitors; Wesley Sneijder, Semih Kaya and Hamit Altintop will all be unavailable for the match.

Under Roberto Mancini, Galatasaray have been doing well in their previous encounters and it will be worth watching Mancini waving his magic and expertise to his new club in the match against the title runners of the Champions league.

RealMadrid: L-W-W-D-W-W

Galatasaray: W-W-W-L-L-W

Possible starting line-up

Real Madrid: Casillas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Arbeloa; Bale, Alonso, Isco, Illarramendi, Jese; Benzema

Galatasaray: Iscan; Eboue, Zan, Chedjou, Gulselam; Melo, Riera, Inan, A Yilmaz; B Yilmaz, Drogba