Galatasaray's hopes of reaching the next stage of the Champions League are slim at best, but with a little bit of luck and alot of determination anything can happen.
The Turkish side had a torrid time at the Santiago Bernabeu: Didier Drogba was quickly tamed by Raphael Varane, while Wesley Sneijder could not hit back at his ex-club.
Rormer Real Madrid player Hamit Altintop declared that his side lacked experience against a team of Los Blancos’ magnitude.
“They are an experienced team. Every year they fight for the Champions League. This was the difference. I think we have quality players, too, but a lack of confidence.”
Real Madrid are without the services of both Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso for the second leg of their Champions League tie against Galatasaray tonight.
They both received their third bookings of the competition in Real's first-leg win at the Bernabeu and therefore are unable for selection.
Gala are to field a lineup without top scorer Burak Yilmaz who was booked for diving after a second-half challenge by Ramos.
The absence of the Yilmaz is a massive loss to Galatasaray who looking to progress to the semi-finals for the first time in 24-years .
Although being the favorites Real goalkeeper Diego Lopez insists the Spanish champions will not sit on their three-goal lead and will go to Istanbul on the attack.
"We must try to play as much as possible like we did in the first leg," said Lopez, who is currently keeping Spain international Iker Casillas out of the Real team.
"Galatasaray are a team who play well on the counter-attack, and they have very fast players up front who are always looking for depth. We have to keep calm in defence, keep everything tight and go for them.
"Our mentality will be to go there and score, and not hide behind the 3-0, because that would be a mistake."
The Details
Champions League Quarter-Final second leg
Venue: Ali Sami Yen Stadium, Istanbul
Date: Tuesday 9 April
Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Recent form
Galatasaray:
Galatasaray 2-0 Buyuksehir (30/03; Super Lig)
Real Madrid 3-0 Galatasaray (03/04; Champions League)
Galatasaray 3-1 Mersin (06/04; Super Lig)
Real Madrid:
Real Zaragoza 1-1 Real Madrid (30/03; La Liga)
Real Madrid 3-0 Galatasaray (03/04; Champions League)
Real Madrid 5-1 Levante (06/04; La Liga)
Key absences
Galatasaray: Tomas Ujfalusi; Dany Nounkeu (suspended); Burak Yilmaz (suspended)
Real Madrid: Fabio Coentrao (doubt); Raphael Varane (doubt); Sami Khedira (doubt); Ricardo Carvalho (doubt); Kaka; Sergio Ramos (suspended); Xabi Alonso (suspended)
Source: DSG
