Istanbul’s Ali Sami Yen Stadium provides the next European stop for Barcelona on Tuesday, when Hansi Flick’s side meet Galatasaray in the second matchday of the 2026/27 Champions League league phase. Kick-off is scheduled for 16:00 Brasília time on 13 October, with Italy’s Marco Guida appointed referee.
Barcelona arrive from Spain carrying the sharpest of attacking rhythms. Their opening Champions League night, at Camp Nou against Feyenoord on 9 September, ended in a 5-1 victory: Raphinha scored twice, while Gabriel Jesus, Lamine Yamal and Adeyemi also found the net. That result took the Catalans to 22 goals in their first five matches of the campaign, and their wider tally now stands at 39 from nine fixtures, at an average of 4.3 per game.
The win over Feyenoord placed Barça third in the league-phase standings on three points, part of a large group of 16 clubs with that total. Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich occupy the first two places.
Flick will be able to call on Eric Garcia again in Istanbul. The defender missed the Feyenoord match through suspension and is expected to start. Raphinha, however, remains out with a thigh injury after also sitting out Saturday’s game against Getafe.
Galatasaray seek a response at home
Galatasaray began their European campaign with a 3-1 defeat away to Sporting in Lisbon. The Turkish side initially went ahead through a Gonçalo Inácio own goal, but Catamo, Luis Suárez and Rodrigo Zalazar turned the match for Sporting. Okan Buruk’s team consequently sit 29th in the table without a point and are looking for their first Champions League win of the season.
Victor Osimhen has returned from a muscle problem, appearing against Kasimpasa on Friday, though there remains uncertainty over whether he can begin against Barcelona. In the event that the Nigerian is not ready to start, Leroy Sané, Yilmaz and Rafael Leão are set to form Galatasaray’s front line.
Galatasaray’s expected team is Cakir; Deniz Gul, Sanchez, Bardakci, Jakobs; Lucas Torreira, Gabriel Sara, Akgun; Leroy Sané, Yilmaz and Rafael Leão.
Barcelona are projected to line up with Joan García; Kounde, Cubarsi, Eric Garcia, João Cancelo; Pedri, Rodri, Dani Olmo; Lamine Yamal, Gabriel Jesus and Anthony Gordon.
