Istanbul beckons for Nihat

By Türker Tozar

As Real Sociedad de Fútbol prepare to face Galatasaray SK in UEFA Champions League Group D on Tuesday, the Spanish side believe they have a secret weapon in Nihat Kahveci.

Turkish experience
The Turkish international forward has been in terrific form since moving from Besiktas JK to the Primera División in January 2002 - and his knowledge of football in his home country could count against Galatasaray in Istanbul.

Significant tie
"I am used to playing against them," Nihat had said, upon hearing that the Champions League draw would pit him against Turkish opposition for the first time since his €5m transfer from Besiktas.

'A big help'
Naturally, the 23-year-old's team-mates think his experience could work to Real's advantage, with midfield player Javier De Pedro saying: "Nihat knows Galatasaray very well. That knowledge and the fact he has played against them before will be a big help."

Recent record
None the less, the striker's record against Galatasaray is not so impressive. In seven games against Besiktas's fierce local rivals, Nihat failed to score. But, as those who saw him in action for Real last season would attest, the player has developed significantly since he left Istanbul to become one of Europe's most talked-about forwards.

Bright start
Nihat started out with Besiktas in 1997/98, when John Toshack was manager. Youth-team coach Hürser Tekinoktay alerted the Welshman's assistant Fuat Yaman to the youngster's potential and, in five seasons at the club, Nihat scored 27 goals in 115 games despite often playing as a winger. However, it was his six goals in 13 matches at the start of the 2001/02 season that finally prompted Real - then led by Toshack - to move for him.

Stunning season
Nihat made just a handful of appearances for the Basque club during the remainder of that campaign, but hit unprecedented heights last term. Deployed alongside Serbo-Montenegrin international Darko Kovacevic, Nihat scored 23 goals in 35 league games. That was enough to propel Real into second place in the Primera División - and set the player on a collision course with Galatasaray in the Champions League.

'My aces'
Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim will doubtless be preparing a special welcome for Nihat and his partner Kovacevic - described by Real coach Raynald Denoueix as "my aces" - but the striker is showing no signs of fear.

Galatasaray plans
"I hope and believe that the matches between us will be entertaining," said Nihat. "I want to see Real and Galatasaray qualify for the next round, but football doesn't tend to work out as you would like. I am planning to score a goal against Galatasaray."

No interlopers
It all fits in with Nihat's thinking about the current campaign. Real might have been a surprise package in Spain last time out, but he is convinced his side belong on the big stage. "We must play for the title, for the Champions League or the UEFA Cup," he said. "We must not be happy to set ourselves small objectives. We have to believe we are capable of going all the way."

Happy return
Nihat missed the opening games of the season through injury, but is now back in action and scored his first league goal in a 3-0 win against Real Zaragoza on 21 September. A goal in Istanbul on Tuesday would make for a very happy return to the Champions League.