Copenhagen vs Galatasaray

Parken Stadium is the venue as Copenhagen and Galatasaray trade tackles in a ‘make or bust’ Champions League showdown.

Copenhagen head into the final round of Champions League Group A fixtures as the likeliest candidate to join group winners Bayern Munich in the round of 16 for the first time since 2010/11. Despite only winning once in their first five group outings (D2, L2), a draw here would suffice, provided Manchester United fail to beat the German powerhouse in the other Group A fixture. However, a win would fire them into the knockouts, irrespective of United’s result at Old Trafford. After winning all four previous European home clashes against Turkish visitors, the reigning Superliga champions will be out to do just that, even though their recent form at Parken Stadium doesn’t inspire much confidence (D1, L2). Likewise, Jacob Neestrup’s men have underperformed in their European home games of late, claiming just two wins in eight (D5, L1).

On the other hand, Galatasaray’s mammoth effort to fight back from a 3-1 deficit and hold Man Utd to a 3-3 home draw last time out leaves them firmly in the race for a first Champions League knockout appearance since 2013/14. Like their opposition, the Turkish giants have only won once in Group A (D2, L2), but the only difference is they must win here to advance to the round of 16. Since you’d need to go back to 2012/13 for the last time Galatasaray won two away matches in the same Champions League group stage campaign, you’d assume it’s an uphill task. Yet the visitors stunned United 3-2 in England, highlighting their notable rise under manager Okan Buruk. That success remains their only away triumph in Champions League away games across their last 19 travels (D3, L15), though.