Barcelona arrive in Istanbul after an impressive opening-day performance, where they beat Feyenoord 5-1 at home. Hansi Flick's side have lost only two of their last 16 Champions League league-phase matches, winning 12, and have established a strong record against Turkish clubs. They are unbeaten in nine matches against Turkish opposition, with seven victories and two draws, and have won their last four away fixtures against Turkish teams. Barcelona have also dominated their previous meetings with Galatasaray, winning six of their ten encounters. Their European pedigree remains significant, with this campaign marking their 21st consecutive Champions League appearance. None of their last 44 matches in the competition has finished goalless, while their last 31 fixtures have produced 141 goals, an average of 4.55 per game. However, defensive consistency remains a concern, as they have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 16 Champions League matches. Lamine Yamal is on the verge of a personal milestone, having scored 12 Champions League goals as a teenager, one short of Kylian Mbappé's record. A 4—3—3 formation with Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Karim Adeyemi in attack is expected against the home side.