Real Madrid go into their Champions League quarter-final against Galatasaray well-rested and fully-fit, but know they can have no room for complacency.
Real Madrid vs. Galatasaray, 2013 UEFA Champions League: Preview and TV Schedule
Real Madrid are heavy favourites to progress against Galatasaray, and should get a good result in the first leg at home, although the Turks can still pose a threat.
Denis Doyle
The Turkish side showed the danger they possess in the Round of 16 when they eliminated Schalke, and with Didier Drogba, Burak Yilmaz and Wesley Sneijder in their ranks, they certainly have the ability to pose Jose Mourinho's side problems.
Real will be firm favourites to progress, and could realistically put the tie out of reach of the Turks in this first leg if they cope well with the danger possessed by their front three. After resting players against Zaragoza, however, they should be able to get the best out of key players such as Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil and Angel Di Maria.
The possibility for a convincing win is there for Mourinho, who only really has the Champions League left to play for, with Barcelona still very much at large. Breaking down a determined Galatasaray while keeping an eye on their forward players will be difficult, but it should be a task which his players are more than capable of completing.
Real Madrid injuries and suspensions
In doubt: Fabio Coentrao (foot), Raphael Varane (ankle)
Galatasaray injuries and suspensions
Out: Tomas Ujfalusi (knee)
Both sides have almost entirely-fit squads to choose from, with Real Madrid likely to reintroduce Karim Benzema, Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedira and Angel Di Maria back into the side after they were rested in their 1-1 draw against Zaragoza. Coentrao and Varane remain doubts, but both are likely to start. Iker Casillas returns to the side, but Diego Lopez could keep his place.
Galatasaray only have long-term absentee Tomas Ujfalusi unavailable, and will probably field the same lineup that prevailed against Schalke, with the formidable front three of Drogba, Yilmaz and Sneijder looking to snatch a goal on the counter-attack.
Match Date\Time: 8:45 p.m. local, 7:45 p.m. BST, 2:45 p.m. ET
Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain
TV: FOX Soccer Channel (U.S. English), FOX Deportes (U.S. Spanish), Sky Sports 2 (U.K.), Sportsnet One (Canada), C+ Liga de Campeones (Spain) Dsmart Isteizle Live, Smart Spor (Turkey)
Online: FOX Soccer 2Go (U.S.), Sky Go (U.K.), Sportsnet World Online (Canada)
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