Today at 2:45 p.m. ET the top two teams in Group B of the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid and Galatasaray, will square off against one another at Estadio Santiago Bernabeau in Spain in a match that can be live streamed here.
Galatasaray coach Roberto Mancini heads into this matchup aware that it will be one of the toughest matches of the year, in a stadium that holds significance. As a coach for Manchester City his side dropped a 2-1 game and washed out of the Champions League following a winless season.
Now he's back, trying to establish Galatasaray's credibility as a European power. The last two years I was drawn with Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich and then I join Galatasaray who are in the same group as Juventus and Madrid, so I think I'm not very lucky,'' Mancini said at a press conference, lamenting the steadily difficult opposition he faces.
"But if you want to manage a top top club you have to play the very best, and I'm happy with this.''
Mancini complimented Real Madrid heading into the clash, telling reporters, "I think that Real Madrid was strong last year and is strong this year. They may have improved because they have bought Gareth Bale and he is a fantastic player. They changed the manager, but we're talking about two top managers and it's the same squad. Playing here is always difficult.''
Along with Bale, Galatasaray must contend with Cristiano Ronaldo, who leads Madrid with a whopping eight goals. They will be feeling pressure to win with several sides bunched together vying for entry to the knockout stage, but Mancini said this may not be the most critical game.
"It's my opinion that the last game against Juventus will be the key game. But we have a game tomorrow, and in football never say never, we'll try and play a good game and win if it's possible. It will be difficult, but we want to try.''
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