Champions League 2025-2026: Galatasaray-Atletico Madrid, the likely lineups

The first Wednesday of Champions League 2026 opens with the challenge between Galatasaray and Atletico Madrid. The Turks currently eighteenth in the standings with a win could put a significant mortgage on playoff qualification, while Atletico by winning would take a very important step toward direct qualification among the top eight.

Okan Buruk’s team needs a good showing against Atletico to try to bounce back from two consecutive defeats against Union Saint-Gilloise and Monaco that dropped them to 18th place. The Turkish coach decided to put the weight of the attack all on Mauro Icardi, with Sané, Akgün and Yilmaz in support in the three-quarter. Lemina and Gündoğan will play in midfield.

Cholo Simeone will surely want to take advantage of the missteps of Inter, City and PSG to make a significant leap in the standings (in fact, by winning, he would overtake all three). The Colchoneros coach will rely on the attacking duo of Julián Álvarez and Sørloth. Simeone and Baena will play on the flanks, while Ruggeri and Llorente full-backs.

Galatasaray (4-2-3-1): Cakir; Sallai, Sánchez, Bardakcı, Eren Elmali; Lemina, Gündoğan; Sané, Akgün, Yilmaz; Icardi. All. Okan Buruk.

Aletico Madrid (4-4-2): Oblak; Llorente, Pubill Pages, Hancko, Ruggeri; Simeone, Barrios, Koke, Baena; Sørloth, Julián Álvarez. All. Diego Simeone.

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