Galatasaray seeks win for prestige on European stage

Galatasaray has already lost any chances of continuing its European campaign this season, but the Istanbul club will try to bow out with a victory when it hosts Arsenal tonight for a Champions League Group D game.

The Lions parted ways with Italian coach Cesare Prandelli after a loss at Anderlecht two weeks ago, which cemented their place at the bottom of their group with only one point.

Former Galatasaray and Turkish international midfielder Hamza Hamzaoğlu, who was an assistant to coach Fatih Terim at Turkey's national team, replaced Prandelli for the season. Galatarsay has won both of its two games since, one in the Ziraat Turkish Cup and another in the Spor Toto Süper League, and coach Hamzaoğlu hopes for a similar result against the Gunners.

"The game will be important for us for prestige and to boost our morale and self-confidence," Hamzaoğlu said Dec. 6 after a 2-1 victory against Akhisar Belediye in the league. "I hope to see my players come together and play well on the pitch. We will be much happier if we win, but what is more important than winning is to be able to come out as a team."

While Galatasaray wants a victory for prestige, Arsenal, which has already qualified for the knockout stages of Europe's elite club competition, would prefer to finish the group stage in first place to avoid a potentially tricky last 16 clash.

For that, Arsenal will need a victory in Istanbul and hope that Borussia Dortmund will falter at home against Anderlecht.

But even more important for the visiting side, coach Arsene Wenger desperately needs some good news after a chastening trip to Stoke on Dec. 6 ended with the Gunners boss looking like a beleaguered figure as he was abused by angry Arsenal fans while waiting to...