Galatasaray look to secure passage

Galatasaray AŞ are on the verge of a berth in the UEFA Cup Round of 32 as FC Metalist Kharkiv make their second trip to Istanbul in just over two months to play the Turkish champions.

• Galatasaray beat Olympiacos CFP and SL Benfica without conceding a goal in their opening two Group B games to take a four-point lead at the top of the section. Metalist kicked off on Matchday 2 with a scoreless draw at home against Hertha BSC Berlin.

• The Turkish side are not yet assured of progression from the section, but only one team since the onset of the UEFA Cup group stage has reached six points and failed to qualify – Rangers FC in the 2004/05 edition.

• Galatasaray and Metalist are meeting for the first time in UEFA club compeititon.

• Galatasaray have surprisingly never come up against Ukrainian opposition before. Nor has their German coach Michael Skibbe, who was formerly in charge of both BV Borussia Dortmund and Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

• Metalist have already overcome one Turkish side in this season's UEFA Cup. They lost 1-0 at Beşiktaş JK in the first leg of their first-round tie, but pulled off a sensational 4-1 win at home to reach the group stage.

• Myron Markevich's team are thus returning to Istanbul for the second time in quick succession having previously visited on 18 September.

• Brazilian Jajá scored twice in the 4-1 win against Beşiktaş, with Serbian-born striker Marko Dević and Polish defender Seweryn Gancarczyk getting one each.

• Galatasaray have lost only once in their last nine UEFA club competition fixtures at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium, winning five of those games and drawing three.

• Metalist, by contrast, are yet to win an away game in four attempts in UEFA club competition. Their best away result to date brought a 1-1 draw at Everton FC in last season's UEFA Cup first round. They have not scored in their other three away ties, losing them all.

• Galatasaray's Ayhan Akman is within a yellow card of a one-match ban.

• Olympiacos play Benfica in the other Group B tie on Matchday 3; Hertha are the only side in the section not in action.