Turkish champions Galatasaray will chase a historic landmark when they visit Manchester City for their Matchday Eight UEFA Champions League fixture on Wednesday at the Etihad Stadium, targeting a record 250th goal in the competition.
The encounter is crucial for both sides as they battle for vital points in the revamped 36-team league phase. Manchester City are 11th on 13 points from seven matches, while Galatasaray sit 17th, also with 13 points.
Under the new Champions League format, the top eight teams qualify directly for the Round of 16, while clubs placed ninth to 24th will contest a two-legged knockout playoff. Teams finishing 25th or lower are eliminated outright, making the clash significant for qualification hopes.
Manchester City’s only previous UEFA meeting with a Turkish side came against Fenerbahce in the 1968/69 European Cup first round, which the Istanbul club won 2-1 on aggregate. Galatasaray, however, arrive with confidence, having gone unbeaten in their last four UEFA matches against English opponents, recording three wins and a draw.
Galatasaray need just two goals to reach the 250-goal milestone, presenting a major opportunity for Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen. The forward recently scored his 50th goal for the club in a 3-1 league win over Fatih Karagumruk and has already netted six times in this season’s Champions League.
The visitors will also count on the experience of two former Manchester City players. Midfielder Ilkay Gündogan, who scored 65 goals in 358 appearances for City and captained the side to their Champions League title in the 2022/23 season, will face his former club. He is joined by Leroy Sané, who also played under Pep Guardiola at City, scoring 39 goals in 135 appearances.
UCL FIXTURES
Ajax vs Olympiakos
Arsenal vs. Kairat
Athletic vs. Sporting
Atletico vs Bodø / Glimt
Barcelona vs. Copenhagen
Leverkusen vs. Villarreal
Benfica vs. Real Madrid
Dortmund vs. Inter
Brugge vs. Marseille
Frankfurt vs. Tottenham
Liverpool vs. Qarabağ
Man City vs. Galatasaray
Monaco vs. Juventus
Napoli vs. Chelsea
PSV vs. Bayern
Pafos vs. Slavia Prague
PSG vs. Newcastle
Saint-Gilloise vs. Atalanta
