ONLY A DRAW

Galatasaray could not manage to take advantage of the presence of a striker like Didier Drogba after they could only manage a draw against Schalke in the last 16 stage of the Champions League. However, the manager Fatih Terim has said that draw was probably a fair result for both teams. Galatasaray recently secured two big names in the form of Didier Drogba and Wesley Sneijder during the January transfer window with the hopes of making it into the latter stages of the European competition. Galatasaray have failed to progress past the last 16 stage in recent seasons.

Due to the fact that they had not drawn against a big team like Barcelona and Real Madrid, Terim would have been hoping to progress to the quarter-final stage quite easily. However, the German team provided a strong resistance in the first leg match between the two teams. Schalke now have the upper hand in the tie after they have scored a crucial away goal. Galatasaray opened the scoring through Burak Yilmaz in the first half, but Jermaine Jones goal just before half-time has given the German team an advantage ahead of the second leg match. Terim admitted after the match that his team were unable to capitalise on the good start provided by Yilmaz’s goal.

“We went in front with an early goal because of our good play, but we unfortunately made a mistake just before half time that led to Schalke’s equaliser. We had previously had chances to score a second goal, although Schalke also had openings in the second half to go in front themselves. It was an even game,” said the Galatasaray manager after the match. The Turkish club also have the league title in their sights. They currently have a four point advantage over Besiktas having played a game less.