In a boiling Istanbul, the upcoming fixture is destined to be filled with anxiety as a victorious Galatasaray knows that a win will bring rivals Manchester United's path to the knockout stages to an abrupt end.
Looking back at the last match between the two sides, the frenzy on the pitch was memorable, with the visiting Galatasaray narrowly winning 3-2. Despite United's overall performance, individual player errors were the key to the team's defeat. And after three weeks of defeating Copenhagen, the Red Devils' promotion situation had become precarious. As the old saying goes, "it never rains but it pours", United not only face Lashford's suspension, but also Casimiro and Kristian Alexson are out of action due to injuries.
With Tannhäuser at the helm, United are in dire need of Bono Fernandes to step up to the plate. Alejandro Canazo, who scored a stunning goal against Ewarton in the Premier League on Sunday, also has the ability to create a threat on the wing and pose a challenge to the Galatasaray defense. With support from Helen, the young Danish striker, who is expected to score five goals in his first four group stage matches, will have a chance to set another new goal tally.
Galatasaray have a number of stars in their squad and they are eager to deal a blow to a United defense that has made numerous mistakes. Molloy Icardi, Sergey, Wifetxea and Aitoro are all looking to show their strength in front of a less confident United defense, and once they get into the swing of things, they will undoubtedly become unstoppable.
Given the Red Devils' porous defense, McTomini's performance in the midfield will be crucial as he will have to cut off Galatasaray's passing lines going forward. His battle with Lucas Torana in the middle will be a key factor in determining the course of the game.
