Galatasaray needs its ’A game’ in UEFA Cup

Given it has been so hard this year to predict how Galatasaray will perform on any given day, it would take a brave person to bet on whether the Turkish champion side will fire against Bordeaux in the UEFA Cup tonight.

When Galatasaray last played in the UEFA Cup this season, everything looked almost perfect. It was playing against Hertha Berlin at the Olympic Stadium and even though a draw was good enough for a ticket out of the group, Galatasaray was the dominating side for most of the game, and the German side’s keeper Jaroslav Drobny was the main reason the final score was only 1-0.

Playing that confident on such a difficult ground, Galatasaray made it clear that it is one of the most serious contenders of European football’s number-two competition at club level. When the draws were made, the confidence did not miss a beat either. Yes, Bordeaux had some top-class players and was on its way to becoming a potent threat to end Lyon’s decade-long hegemony. But Galatasaray coach Michael Skibbe believes that no matter if the team failed to top the domestic league, it could do well in Europe.

"Our displays have been so different in the UEFA Cup this year that we have played at a higher level," he said. "We want to repeat what we did previously and play on a totally different plane against Bordeaux."

Shining starlet

With Fernando Cavenaghi up front, Brazilian Wendel in the midfield backed by tough defender Mathieu Chalme, Bordeaux has a competent squad. But it becomes something else altogether with Yoann Gourcuff. Currently on loan from Italian giant AC Milan, Gourcuff is probably the most valuable starlet in the French League with Lyon’s Karim Benzema. The way he links the midfield and attack is a major asset for the French side, so much so that some suggest he will be the one to replace Kaka, if the Brazilian superstar moves somewhere else.

For the French, Gourcuff is more than the new Kaka, and he is expected to fill legendary Zinedine Zidane’s roomy boots.

In an article released on the official UEFA Web site, Gourcuff was named one of the 10 names to be watched in the competition, once again making references to Zidane.

"ZinŽdine Zidane took Bordeaux all the way to the final in 1996 and they could go far again thanks to the sparkling form of playmaker Yoann Gourcuff," said the story. "The 22-year-old has long drawn comparisons to the great Zizou and showed just why with a series of commanding performances during the UEFA Champions League group stage. With Milan set to recall Gourcuff from his loan spell at the end of the season, could he, like Zidane, be set for a final swansong?"

Familiar faces

This will be the third time Bordeaux’s paths in European cups has crossed with Galatasaray in the last three years. Two years ago, Galatasaray met Bordeaux in the Champions League group stage and was crushed 3-1 in France, after a goalless draw in Istanbul.

Last year, Galatasaray played at Bordeaux in the UEFA Cup group stage this time. The first half ended 1-0 for the Lions, but the French side managed to come back for a 2-1 win.

With Harry Kewell expected to return from an injury that kept him sidelined for two months and Lincoln available to play, Galatasaray’s midfield is likely to be a step up from the team which could only manage to find one win in its last six domestic games.

Milan Baros, who is Galatasaray’s top scorer in the competition with four goals in six games, is likely to benefit from the duo’s return.

He is optimistic about his side’s chances against Bordeaux. "The chances of both teams are balanced," he said on the UEFA site. "If we get a good result there, we should be able to beat them on home soil. I hope we will go through, even though it is not going to be an easy game."

Former player puts UEFA Cup medal on sale

While Galatasaray is trying to add another UEFA trophy to its cabinet, a former player has been forced to sell the medal he received as part of team’s 2000 victory in the competition.

Former Galatasaray defender Alper Tezcan put his golden UEFA Cup medal on sale via an auctioning Web site. (www.hemalhemsat.com).

Seen as a promising player, Alper’s career spiralled all the way down unlike most of his teammates. His leg was broken only a few seconds after being brought on against Bologna. Now a 28-year-old, his career has been plagued by that injury, from which he has never fully recovered. He played for third-tier clubs before retiring.

"I am selling my medal, which I won with my sweat and which I carried with my pride," he said in a statement. "For continuing my battle in life." The auctioning started at 500 liras while the current bid has reached to 100,000 liras. The bidding will end next Monday.