Galatasaray to face Barcelona in difficult Europa League clash

By Selcuk Bugra Gokalp

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish football club Galatasaray are set to face Barcelona in a compelling match against Barcelona on Thursday in the UEFA Europa League last 16.

Galatasaray traveled to Spain for the first leg at Camp Nou to be held on Thursday, 2000 GMT, but will play without their captain, Arda Turan.

Turan, 35, was injured and will be unable to join the match against his former club, where he played in 2015-2017.

Spanish goalkeeper Inaki Pena, is expected to play for Galatasaray against the Spanish club.

The Lions signed the 23-year-old on loan from Barcelona B in the mid-season transfer window.

While Barcelona lack their youngster Gavi, the Istanbul team has no suspended players.

Gavi, 17, won't play in the first leg as he is suspended.

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique will miss the second leg at Istanbul's Nef Stadium on March 17 if he is booked on Thursday.

The clubs last met in the 2002-2003 UEFA Champions League group stage.

Barcelona beat Galatasaray in away and home games (2-0 and 3-1).

Head-to-head, Barca won five of eight games against Galatasaray. Two ended in draw.

Galatasaray beat Barcelona 2-1 in a 1994 Champions League match in Istanbul, the Lions' sole victory over the Spanish team.

Barcelona is a Champions League frequenter as the team claimed Europe's top-tier trophy five times. Barca last won it in 2015.

This season, the Spanish side are in unfamiliar ground, the second-tier Europa League.

Galatasaray are seeking to relive their old glory days in the Europa League when they were the 2000 UEFA Cup champions after eliminating England's Arsenal on penalties.

The UEFA Cup was rebranded the Europa League before the 2009-2010 season.

- Leipzig into quarterfinals

Germany's RB Leipzig are the only team that secured a berth in the Europa League quarterfinals as their opponents in the last 16, Spartak Moscow, were disqualified from the competition due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

UEFA first canceled the RB Leipzig-Spartak Moscow tie as a sanction against Russian clubs, then including RB Leipzig in the quarterfinals draw to be held on March 18.

The 2022 Europa League final will be played at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium in Spain's Sevilla on May 25.

Since Russia began its war on Ukraine on Feb. 24, it has drawn international condemnation, led to financial sanctions on Moscow, and spurred an exodus of global companies from Russia.

At least 474 civilians have been killed and 864 others injured in Ukraine since Russia launched a war against its neighbor, according to UN figures, with the real toll feared to be higher.

More than 2.1 million people have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries, according to the UN refugee agency.

- First leg fixtures in last 16

- Wednesday:

Porto - Olympique Lyon

Real Betis - Eintracht Frankfurt

- Thursday:

Sevilla - West Ham United

Rangers - Crvena zvezda

Braga - Monaco

Atalanta - Bayer Leverkusen

Barcelona - Galatasaray