Galatasaray seeking to make history -- again

Several members of the dream squad at the time are still with Galatasaray today -- Ümit Davala, Hasan Şaş and Claudia Taffarel -- albeit as assistant coaches this time, and legendary head coach Fatih Terim, who was the architect of that team, is at the helm. Galatasaray fans are therefore hoping that Real Madrid will be passable again on Wednesday ahead of another Champions League quarterfinal match and wishing that another dream team is in the making under Master Terim.

A lot has changed since 2001 for Galatasaray. The team was in its heyday back then and one year before hten they won the second-class UEFA Cup -- since renamed as the Europa League Cup.

From then on Real Madrid has stayed in power and remained globally glorious while Galatasaray suffered from decline and did not show up in any major international game. Let us stick with the realities: Real Madrid weighs heavier than Galatasaray when it comes to deciding which side is the favorite. But Galatasaray has proven in the past that it can rise to the occasion and achieve what does not seem likely, as was the case when it clinched the Super Cup in 2000, defeating then Champions League titleholder Real Madrid. The İstanbul side has been undefeated in the past six matches in this season’s Champions League.

On top of this, the Lions made star signings during the winter transfer window, bringing in world-famous stars Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba and Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder. One should not forget about Burak Yılmaz, either. The Turkish goal machine is tied with Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, each having scored eight goals in the Champions League thus far. These stars will be Terim’s strongest hands on the pitch of the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

However, Burak must be smart and avoid a yellow card at Bernabeu because he will be suspended for the second-leg match in İstanbul if he sees another yellow. Likewise, other regulars, defender Dany Neunkeu, winger Albert Riera and midfielder Selçuk İnan, all accumulated yellow cards and face a similar situation.

An interesting note regarding the match is that it will pit Madrid coach Jose Mourinho against his former player Drogba, and Galatasaray midfielders Hamit Altıntop and Sneijder against their former teams.

An advantageous score obtained by Galatasaray in Madrid might turn the tables in favor of the Lions since fans will then surely turn Türk Telekom Arena into hell, as the club’s former Ali Sami Yen Stadium was commonly called, for its rivals. We must now wait and see whether or not history will repeat itself and another April 3 will bring Galatasaray good luck.

While Terim has yet to reveal his starting 11, the Real Madrid line-up is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Diego López, Adán and Jesús

Defenders: Ramos, Arbeloa, Varane, Coentrão, Marcelo and Pepe

Midfielders: Alonso, Khedira, Özil, Essien, Modric, Kaká and Di María

Strikers: Higuaín, Cristiano Ronaldo and Benzema