Lions seek ticket to the next stage

Although failing to give convincing displays in the domestic league, Galatasaray has played in the UEFA Cup with complete confidence and is only one point away from qualifying from the group stages. Taking on the Ukrainian Metalist Kharkiv at its own Ali Sami Yen Stadium tonight, it will have the comfort of familiar territory.

Galatasaray have failed to win two games in a row since Sept. 28 in the domestic league but when it comes to the European stage, the Lions perform on a completely different level.Â

Starting the group campaign with a 1-0 win over Olympiacos, Galatasaray continued its form with a 2-0 win, thanks to a commanding display at Benfica. Given the other teams have all ended their games with draws, Galatasaray is sitting comfortably on top, with its closest trailer Hertha Berlin on two points. Olympiacos, Benfica and Metalist Kharkiv are all on one point.

So, a win will automatically put Galatasaray out of reach and will lead the Istanbul side to win the group regardless of the last two matchs.

Metalist has proved a difficult team to predict, though. The Ukrainians were drawn against BeÅŸiktaÅŸ in the previous round of the UEFA Cup, and advanced to the group stages with a 4-2 victory on aggregate. It lost the first game in Istanbul 1-0, but managed to rout BeÅŸiktaÅŸ 4-1 at home. Given how superiorly Metalist played on its own pitch, Galatasaray should count itself lucky that it will not have to travel to North for a return game, and play in front of an ambitious crowd in the cold winter of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Galatasaray had another change in the cockpit yesterday, bringing former coach Karl Heinz Feldkamp to the "technical consultant" position to coordinate with coach Michael Skibbe.

Feldkamp worked as Galatasaray coach in two different stints, first in 1993 and the second last season. Galatasaray eventually won the Turkish title in both campaigns but the second one was relatively more painful. The German coach quit the team with six games left, leaving coaching duties to assistant Cevat Güler.

Dubious move

The Feldkamp move, which came only months after his rift with Chairman Adnan Polat, is dubious. At first sight, it may be a positive move for current coach Michael Skibbe, who successfully worked with Rudi Völler at the German national team and Bayer Leverkusen in two different periods. But on the other hand, it may be seen as another intervention to Skibbe’s power zone. Earlier this season, the club board fired assistant coaches Edwin Boekamp and Ümit Davala without Skibbe’s consent.

As Galatasaray fails to live up to expectations in the league, the UEFA Cup success and a climb in form in domestic games seem inevitable needs for Skibbe to solidify his position at the helm.

The game kicks off at 8:00 p.m.