Manchester United vs Galatasaray SK Tickets

Manchester United and Galatasaray both have a huge and passionate fanbase, but have enjoyed different levels of success in continental football.

The Red Devils are giants of European football, winning the UEFA Champions League on three occasions. Manchester United last won the trophy in 2008, beating Chelsea in Moscow after a dramatic penalty shoot-out. They’ve suffered a downturn in fortunes since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, watching rivals Manchester City dominate the Premier League instead.

Galatasaray have featured regularly in the UEFA Champions League, but are yet to reach a final. Their best performance came in the 1987/88 season, when they reached the semi-finals of the European Cup. The Turkish club were beaten 5-1 on aggregate by Steaua Bucharest and a young Gheorghe Hagi.

Both clubs have won one UEFA Europa League title in their history. Man United beat Ajax in the 2017 final and Gala became UEFA Cup champions after beating Arsenal on penalties in 2000. Galatasaray’s one other international trophy came later that same year, beating Real Madrid 2-1 in the Super Cup.

Manchester United vs Galatasaray Head to Head

These two European giants were drawn together in Group A in the 2023/24 edition of the Champions League. Their previous meeting came back in November 2012, when Galatasaray ran out 1-0 winners at the Türk Telekom Arena. Burak Yilmaz scored the only goal of the game on an ear-splittingly loud night in Istanbul.

That was Galatasaray’s first win over Manchester United in the Champions League, at the sixth time of asking. The iconic Turkish club has failed to reach the knockout stages since that season.

Manchester United vs Galatasaray Connections

There are some notable recent players who have donned both Manchester United and Galatasaray colours. Juan Mata spent eight years at Old Trafford before joining Gala on a free transfer. The veteran Spanish midfielder won the Super Lig in his debut season, before moving to Japanese club Vissel Kobe in the summer of 2023.

Great things were expected of a young Wilfried Zaha when he signed for Manchester United in 2013. Yet, he made only two Premier League appearances in Man United colours before re-signing for his boyhood club Crystal Palace two years later. The exceptional winger signed for Galatasaray in July 2023 to much fanfare.

One more player to have represented both clubs is Alex Telles. The Brazilian full-back moved from South America to Gala in 2014, before eventually signing for Man United from Porto in a £15m deal six years later.