When the draw was complete for Champions League Group A, it appeared as though progression to the knockout stages would be easy for Real Madrid. However, that's not turned out to be the case and they welcome Galatasaray to the Santiago Bernabeu in the 4th round of Champions League fixtures knowing they cannot afford to slip up.
The pressure is also on Galatasaray, who know they really need to win this game if they want to stay in contention for the round of 16.
Real Madrid have 4 points to their name from 3 games played In Group A and would have been hoping for a better return. They started with a disappointing 3-0 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain in what was a high profile game in the first round of fixtures. This placed Real Madrid on the backfoot and they have failed to respond in their first home game of the group as they were held to a shock 2-2 draw by Club Brugge.
Thankfully for Real Madrid, a single goal scored by Toni Kroos was enough to win the match against Galatasaray in Turkey. That was their first win in 4 Champions League games and their 2nd in their last 6 matches in the competition.
Trends show Real Madrid have failed to win any of their last 3 home Champions League games, losing to CSKA Moscow and Ajax plus being held by Club Brugge this season. They have conceded 10 goals in their last 4 home Champions League matches.
👊 ¡Pleno de victorias contra equipos turcos en el Santiago Bernabéu!🆚 @Besiktas 2-0 (1958/59)🆚 @GalatasaraySK 3-0 (2000/2001)🆚 @GalatasaraySK 3-0 (2012/2013)🆚 @GalatasaraySK 4-1 (2013/2014)#RMUCL | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/ZEeVlswRAV— Real Madrid C.F.⚽ (@realmadrid) November 4, 2019
👊 ¡Pleno de victorias contra equipos turcos en el Santiago Bernabéu!🆚 @Besiktas 2-0 (1958/59)🆚 @GalatasaraySK 3-0 (2000/2001)🆚 @GalatasaraySK 3-0 (2012/2013)🆚 @GalatasaraySK 4-1 (2013/2014)#RMUCL | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/ZEeVlswRAV
Galatasaray make the trip to Madrid having failed to win a game in Champions League Group A this season. They picked up a point in their opening match against Club Brugge in Belgium but then lost 1-0 at home to Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. Galatasaray would have been hoping to pick something up from at least one of those 2 home games.
Trends show Galatasaray have failed to win any of their last 8 matches in the Champions League. They have lost 6 of those games and have kept only 2 clean sheets. Galatasaray have failed to win away from home in the Champions League in their last 15 attempts and have not managed to score a single goal in their last 5 on the road.
Team news and Real Madrid are without the injured duo of Marco Asensio and Nacho Fernandez who both have knee injuries. The hosts also have doubts over the fitness of Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez.
Galatasaray have doubts over 3 players, with Emre Akbaba, Radamel Falcao and Sener Özbayrakli all hoping to recover in time for the game.
Real Madrid have struggled at home in the Champions League recently but will surely have enough to win this game. Galatasaray have been poor away from home and we could see Real Madrid come out on top with a clean sheet.