Galatasaray are hosting Chelsea at the Turk Telekom Arena on Wednesday, February 26th (11:45 AM Pacific, 19:45 GMT) in the Round of 16 in the Champions League. One cannot ignore the fact that this game will be centered about the reunion between Dider Drogba and his former team. Of course, a win for both teams is vital.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho must be aching for another Champions League trophy, especially with Chelsea. The Blues have a team, both on the pitch and on paper, that can be argued as one of the best teams in the world. With a midfield envious by any manager, Mourinho will hope to make a deep run into the competition. Veterans of the squad would love to hold the trophy one last time.
Galatasaray are seen to be one of the weaker teams in the remaining competition. However, they are still an extremely dangerous team to face. With superstars like Dider Drogba and Wesley Sneijder, the Chelsea defense could easily be torn apart. The Turkish champions are not a threat to challenge the trophy, but will look to go as far as they can. A team that has gained much more attention in the last couple of years will look to attract bigger names with a strong run.
With a dominating performance in the group stages, Chelsea have high expectations for the rest of the competition. Outside of the Champions League, Chelsea have done a great job in the Premier League. A simple glance at their results will reveal victories in big games with little losses. Although sparks of creative and attractive soccer have been rare, the wins have been steadily coming.
Galatasaray have also succeeded in the SüperLig. Sitting in a close second place, they have a strong chance of capturing another title. The team has won three in their last five games, tying the other two.
KEY PLAYERS
The key player for Chelsea is David Luiz. He will be containing the likes of Sneijder, a world-class midfielder. When Luiz has a clean and safe game in the midfield, he is always one of them most influential players on the pitch.
The key player for Galatasaray is Didier Drogba. If the forward can slot one home against his former team, it will make things much more difficult for Chelsea.
Galatasaray vs Chelsea Prediction
It is going to be a close game, no doubt. The lesser known players on Galatasaray have shown much skill and promise and will give the Chelsea midfield a run for their money. I predict a 1-0 victory for Chelsea, with an early goal from Eden Hazard. Both teams will not hold back to get on the score sheet first.
Galatasaray vs Chelsea Television
The match will be televised on Fox Sports 1 USA, and Sky Sports 1 (UK).
Chelsea Possible Lineup
Click here for a full analysis of Chelsea’s Possible Lineup.
