Galatasaray know significance of FCK encounters

Galatasaray AŞ's draw with Juventus last time out has left the race for qualification from UEFA Champions League Group B wide open, according to their coach Roberto Mancini. Cimbom and FC København have one point apiece so far, one less than the Bianconeri, and with the Italian club facing Real Madrid CF on matchdays three and four, Mancini knows the significance of these back-to-back games against the Danish title holders. Ståle Solbakken says his team need to be at "our very best" to get a result.

Galatasaray
Roberto Mancini, coach
I have not decided on the left-back position, on whether Albert Riera or Dany Nounkeu will play in the absence of Hakan Balta. We have two training sessions left – tonight and tomorrow morning – after which I will make my final decision on several matters. 

The group has become more open with the point we took from Juventus and I believe all will be decided in our last match against them. Until then, we won't make many mistakes and will stay in contention. Of course we respect our opponents, and first we have to win tomorrow and then carry on in our other fixtures.

København are a very good team, hard to beat. They are playing well defensively and can also threaten from counterattacks and set pieces. We know this. In the Champions League there are no easy matches or weak teams. I don't make predictions – we have to look at each game as it comes. We have København tomorrow and our first aim is to win this match.

Weekend result
Saturday: Galatasaray 2-1 Kardemir Karabükspor (Sneijder 41 83; Akpala 52)
Muslera, Sabri Sarıoğlu, Chedjou, Semih Kaya, Hakan Balta (Nounkeu 78); Ceyhun Gülselam (Aydın Yılmaz 69), Felipe Melo, Selçuk İnan, Sneijder; Burak Yılmaz, Drogba.

• With just one point from their previous two Super League outings, Wesley Sneijder's maiden Galatasaray double got them back to winning ways in Mancini's first match at the Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi. Aydın Yılmaz came off the bench for his debut; Emmanuel Eboué and Bruma missed out due to the Turkish foreign player quota.

Team news
Hamit Altıntop is sidelined with a spinal hernia, though back in light training. Hakan Balta strained knee ligaments on Saturday and faces a two-week lay-off. Gökhan Zan has a hamstring problem but Engin Baytar is available after a knee strain.

København
Ståle Solbakken, coach
It's always difficult in a stadium like this, where the atmosphere is intense, but some of the players should be experienced enough to deal with it and the youngsters will get their chance to do so from the beginning. We're strong as a unit. The most important thing is not the crowd or Galatasaray, it is our performance – we have to be at our very best.

There are some similarities in that both teams changed coach this season. Galatasaray have yet to reach the heights they did in getting to the last eight last season. [Fatih] Terim has been replaced and that has caused some uncertainty. Mancini's approach has great discipline about it, so Galatasaray have made a good choice, but it will take time for them to get back to their best.

We started at home with a good result [1-1 against Juventus] and that could be key for third place. Galatasaray can take points at home to anyone.

Weekend result
Saturday: København 3-0 Aalborg BK (Jørgensen 43, L Nielsen og 62 Vetokel 89)
Wiland, Jacobsen, Sigurdsson, Mellberg, Remmer, Gislason (Toutouh 65) Delaney, Claudemir (Kristensen 82) Vetokele, Jørgensen, Santin (Braaten 64).

• With Pierre Bengtsson suspended, Solbakken handed Christoffer Remmer a first Superliga start and he repaid the favour by setting up Nicolai Jørgensen's opener as FCK got their third home league win in succession.

Team news
FCK are at full strength.

Match fact
• København's Parken Stadion was the venue for Galatasaray's finest hour as they beat Arsenal FC 4-1 on penalties in the 1999/2000 UEFA Cup final after a goalless 120 minutes. Assistant coach Ümit Davala was in the winning team.