Barcelona Take Perfect Record to Galatasaray in Champions League: Squad, Injuries and Kickoff Time
Key takeaways
- Barcelona visit Galatasaray at RAMS Park in Istanbul on Tuesday, October 13, with kickoff at 9 pm Central European time in UEFA Champions League matchday two.
- Hansi Flick named the same 22-man squad that beat Getafe, still without injured stars Raphinha, Frenkie de Jong and Andreas Christensen.
- Barcelona have won all nine matches this season, while Galatasaray chase their first European points after a 3-1 loss at Sporting CP.
Barcelona play Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, October 13. The game is at RAMS Park in Istanbul. Kickoff is at 9 pm Central European time, which is 10 pm local time in Turkey and 8 pm in the UK.
Barcelona have not dropped a single point all season. They have won all eight La Liga matches. They also beat Feyenoord in their first European game.
That is nine wins in a row. Now they face their first away test in Europe. Galatasaray need points after losing their opener 3-1 at Sporting CP.
What happened
Barcelona's season has been close to perfect so far. On Saturday, they beat Getafe 3-0 at home in La Liga. Anthony Gordon scored inside two minutes.
Gabriel Jesus added a second before half time after a defensive mistake. Jules Kounde finished the scoring from a Lamine Yamal corner in the second half. The win kept Barcelona on 24 points from eight league games.
Their European start was just as strong. They opened the Champions League league phase with a 5-1 win over Feyenoord at home. That result put them third in the big league table after round one.
Only Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich sat above them on goal difference.
Now comes the hard part. Tuesday is Barcelona's first away game in Europe this season. RAMS Park is famous for its noise.
Turkish fans create one of the toughest atmospheres in world football. Visiting teams often struggle there. Barcelona will need to stay calm.
Coach Hansi Flick has picked his squad for the trip. He named the same 22 players who beat Getafe. The club confirmed the list on Monday.
The full group includes goalkeepers Joan Garcia, Wojciech Szczesny and Dominik Livakovic. The defenders are Cancelo, Balde, Pau Cubarsi, Kounde, Eric Garcia, Gerard Martin and Xavi Espart. Midfielders include Pedri, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Fermin Lopez, Rodri, Marc Bernal and Brian Farinas.
The forwards are Lamine Yamal, Gabriel Jesus, Karim Adeyemi, Anthony Gordon and Hamza Abdelkarim.
Four important players are missing. Raphinha is out with a thigh injury he picked up on international duty with Brazil. Flick said last week the club will not take any risks with him.
Frenkie de Jong is back in training but not fit enough to travel. Andreas Christensen is out until November. Young forward Roony Bardghji is also still injured.
There is some good news for Barcelona. Eric Garcia is available again. He missed the Feyenoord game through suspension.
Now he can play his first Champions League match of the season. Flick may use him in central defence.
Galatasaray have had a mixed season. They lost 3-1 away at Sporting CP in their first European match. That left them 30th in the 36-team table with zero points.
Their domestic form has been patchy too. A 4-0 defeat to Trabzonspor last month cost them top spot in the Turkish league.
But the Turkish champions arrive in good spirits. On Friday night, they beat Kasimpasa 3-1 in dramatic fashion. They played the end of the game with ten men.
Then they scored in the 90th and 96th minutes to win. That kind of late drama gives a team belief.
The best news for coach Okan Buruk is the return of Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian striker has been out since September 4 with a groin injury. Before the injury, he scored six goals and gave two assists in just four league games.
Buruk rested him against Kasimpasa with Tuesday in mind. Now he is expected to start.
Galatasaray also have injury problems. Wilfried Singo and Gunay Guvenc are both out with muscle injuries. Roland Sallai is a doubt.
But their likely lineup still looks strong, with Lucas Torreira and Mario Lemina in midfield and Rafael Leao supporting Osimhen.
Why it matters
This match is a test of Barcelona's title credentials. Winning at home is one thing. Winning in Istanbul is another.
The best teams in Europe prove themselves in hostile away grounds. Tuesday night will show how strong this Barcelona team really is.
The injury list makes it harder. Raphinha is Barcelona's captain and one of their most dangerous attackers. Without him, more responsibility falls on Lamine Yamal.
The young winger has been brilliant this season. But Galatasaray will plan to stop him. They may double up on him out wide.
The midfield battle will be key. Pedri and Rodri must control the tempo for Barcelona. For Galatasaray, Torreira and Lemina will try to break up play.
If Barcelona win the middle of the pitch, they will create chances. If Galatasaray win it, the game becomes a fight.
History favors Barcelona. The two clubs have met ten times in Europe. Barcelona won six, drew three and lost only once.
That single Galatasaray win came way back in November 1994. The last meeting was in the Europa League in 2022. Barcelona won 2-1 in Istanbul to go through, with Pedri scoring. Barcelona are also unbeaten in their last nine games against Turkish clubs.
But history means little on the night. Galatasaray have beaten big teams at home before. Their fans believe this is the kind of game where they can shock Europe.
A win would change their whole season. It would put them back in the race for the knockout rounds.
For Barcelona, the stakes are about momentum. Ten wins in a row would be a statement. It would keep them near the top of the league-phase table.
The new Champions League format rewards strong starts. The top eight teams skip a playoff round. Barcelona want to finish in that top eight.
There is also a personal story for Okan Buruk. The Galatasaray coach played in that 1994 win over Barcelona. He came off the bench that night.
Now he tries to beat them as a coach. Football loves these circles.
What happens next
If Barcelona win, the perfect record reaches ten games. They would stay near the top of the Champions League table. The team would fly home full of confidence.
The next league match would feel easier. The players would believe they can win anywhere.
If Galatasaray win, it would be one of the results of the round. They would get their first European points. The fans would celebrate long into the night.
Barcelona's perfect start would be over. Questions would follow about the injuries and the away form.
A draw would suit Barcelona more than Galatasaray. The Spanish side would keep their unbeaten run alive. Galatasaray would have a point, but they need wins at home to reach the knockout stage.
With tough games ahead, a draw might feel like a missed chance.
The expected lineups give a clue about the game plan. Barcelona may start Joan Garcia in goal, with Kounde, Cubarsi, Eric Garcia and Cancelo in defence. Rodri, Pedri and Fermin could form the midfield.
Yamal, Gabriel Jesus and Gordon may lead the attack. Galatasaray may line up with Cakir in goal, Baris Alper at right back, and Osimhen up front.
Fans in the UK can watch on TNT Sports. Others should check UEFA's website for local broadcast details. The game kicks off at a perfect time for European viewers.
Expect a loud, intense, high-quality night of football.
Whatever happens, Tuesday will tell us a lot. Is Barcelona's perfect start built to last? Can Galatasaray rise for the big occasion?
By midnight in Istanbul, we will have the answer. For more on this week's continental action, see our guide to Al Nassr's clash with Neftchi Fergana, our recap of Pachuca's dramatic 3-3 draw with Necaxa and Tyler Huntley's overtime winner for the Ravens.
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