Real Madrid v Galatasary: Champions League Match Preview

03 April 2013 09:45

Real Madrid will be without goalkeeper Iker Casillas, despite him returning to training from a hand injury.

Defenders Raphael Varane and Fabio Coentrao should return after missing the 1-1 draw with Real Zaragoza in La Liga, while Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil and Angel Di Maria could all start after being rested at the weekend.

Galatasaray are expected to hand a start to former Real Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder, while former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, and Arsenal old boy Emmanuel Eboue are also expected to play.

Gala scraped through their group behind Manchester United courtesy of their better head to head against CFR Cluj.

In the last 16, they beat Schalke. A disappointing 1-1 draw at the Turk TelecomArena was followed up with an impressive 3-2 win in Germany to progress 4-3 on aggregate.

Los Blancos were also runners-up in their group, qualifying behind Borussia Dortmund.

Also like Gala, they drew the first leg of their last 16 tie 1-1 at home to Manchester United. At Old Trafford, though, they came from behind to win 2-1 and secure their place in the quarterfinals.

Probable Teams

Real Madrid: Diego Lopez, Alvaro Arbeloa, Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos, Fabio Coentrao; Sami Khedira, Xabi Alonso; Angel Di Maria, Mesut Ozil, Cristiano Ronaldo; Gonzalo Higuain

Galatasaray: Fernando Muslera; Emmanuel Eboue, Semih Kaya, Dany Nounkeu, Albert Riera; Hamit Altintop, Felipe Melo, Selcuk Inan; Wesley Sneijder; DidierDrogba, Burak Yilmaz

Source: DSG