Barcelona vs Galatasaray: What to Know Before Tuesday's Big Match
Key takeaways
- Barcelona visit Galatasaray in Istanbul on Tuesday, October 13.
- Kickoff is 9 pm CEST, which is 10 pm local time in Istanbul and 3 pm Eastern Time in the United States.
- In the US, fans can watch on Paramount+. Viewers in other countries should check local listings.
Galatasaray host Barcelona on Tuesday night in Istanbul. It is a Champions League league phase match. Kickoff is 9 pm
CEST at RAMS Park.
The home team is Galatasaray. The visitors are FC Barcelona from Spain. The game is matchday 2 of the league phase.
The league phase is the first round of the Champions League. Each team plays a set of games. Points decide who moves on to the next round.
The Champions League is Europe's top club contest.
Kickoff time, venue, and how to watch
The match is on Tuesday, October 13. The venue is RAMS Park in Istanbul, Turkey. The stadium is also called Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi.
Barcelona landed in Istanbul on Monday morning, according to FC Barcelona. The team trained at the stadium on Monday afternoon. The session started at 6 pm
CEST, which was 7 pm in Turkey.
Kickoff is 9 pm CEST. That is 10 pm local time in Istanbul.
It is 3 pm Eastern Time in the United States. It is 12 pm
Pacific Time. Sports Illustrated lists these times. It is 8 pm in the United Kingdom.
In Pakistan, that is midnight as Wednesday begins.
Marco Guida of Italy is the referee, according to Sports Illustrated. Marco Di Bello, also of Italy, is in charge of VAR. VAR is the video system that checks big calls.
How can fans watch? In the United States, the game is on Paramount+, according to USA Today. Sports Illustrated also lists DAZN USA for US viewers.
In Canada, the game is on DAZN Canada and fuboTV Canada. In Mexico, it is on TNT Sports and Max Mexico. In the United Kingdom, it is on TNT Sports 2 and TNT Sports 8.
HBO Max also shows it.
These are paid TV and streaming services. Fans need a subscription to watch. If your country is not listed above, check your local listings.
Why it matters
Both teams need points. The league phase table is still new. A win now can shape the rest of the run.
Barcelona have started the season in fine form. They have won all eight of their La Liga games, according to USA Today. They have scored 34 goals in those eight games.
They also beat Feyenoord 5-1 at home in their first Champions League game. That win put them third in the league phase table, according to Sports Illustrated.
Barcelona have been strong in attack all season. They have scored 39 goals in nine games in all competitions, according to Sports Illustrated. That is an average of 4.3 goals per game.
No team has stopped them yet.
Galatasaray lead their home league, the Super Lig. They have 16 points from seven matches, according to USA Today. They have won five of those seven domestic games, according to Sports Illustrated.
But their European start was poor. They lost 3-1 at Sporting CP in their first game.
Galatasaray are hard to beat at home. They have not lost at home since April, according to Sports Illustrated. Their fans make RAMS Park loud and hostile for visitors.
Last season, Galatasaray beat Liverpool twice and Juventus at home, according to Sports Illustrated.
History favors Barcelona. The two clubs have met 10 times in the Champions League era. That is according to Sports Illustrated.
Barcelona have won six, drawn three, and lost one. That one loss came in the 1994-95 season. Barcelona have also won their last three away games at Galatasaray.
This is one of the big games on matchday 2. You can see the full list in our Champions League matchday 2 schedule.
Team news and what to watch
Barcelona will miss one star player. Raphinha is out with a thigh issue, according to Sports Illustrated. The team still has plenty of attack.
Lamine Yamal leads the charge. He has scored in nine of his last 11 games for club and country. That is according to Sports Illustrated.
Gabriel Jesus is set to lead the line again, according to the same preview.
Barcelona trained with a 22-man squad in Istanbul, according to FC Barcelona. Coach Hansi Flick and player Pau Cubarsi spoke to reporters before the session. The team has yet to lose or draw this season, FC Barcelona says.
Galatasaray may welcome back their star striker. Victor Osimhen came off the bench last Friday. Galatasaray won 3-1 over Kasimpasa.
That is according to Sports Illustrated. It was his first game since the start of September. Wilfried Singo is a doubt after being out since late August, the preview says.
Galatasaray have had defensive problems. They have conceded 11 goals in their home league run. That is according to Sports Illustrated.
They also conceded three goals in their first Champions League game. Barcelona's attack will test that defense.
The crowd is a factor too. Galatasaray fans sit close to the pitch. They make a lot of noise for the full 90 minutes.
Barcelona must stay calm in that storm.
Manchester United also play a big game on Tuesday. Read our preview of Manchester United against Atletico Madrid for more Champions League action.
What happens next
A win would lift Barcelona higher in the early table. It would keep their perfect start alive. A win for Galatasaray would be a big statement.
It would make up for the opening loss at Sporting CP.
A draw would help both teams a little. But neither team wants to drop points at home or away. Every point counts toward the next round.
After Tuesday, both teams keep playing league phase games. The table will take shape over the next weeks. Fans should watch the table after matchday 2.
More football is on this week too. In Mexico, Cruz Azul face Pumas in the Clasico Capitalino. That is one more big derby to follow.
Tuesday night in Istanbul will be loud. The crowd will push Galatasaray. Barcelona will try to stay calm and keep winning.
Check the result after full time. Check local listings before kickoff if you plan to watch.
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