Manchester City host Turkish side Galatasaray at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, in their final UEFA Champions League league phase match. City, currently 11th with 13 points, require a victory and favourable results elsewhere to secure a top-eight finish and avoid the knockout phase play-offs. They suffered a 0-2 home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in their last Champions League home game.
Galatasaray sit 17th in the league phase table with 10 points. The Turkish champions have lost only one of their last nine matches across all competitions, though they recorded two consecutive draws before a recent league win, according to BBC Sport.
Under Okan Buruk, Galatasaray often employ a high-pressing 4-2-3-1 formation, which can be high-risk but also high-reward. This approach may leave their defence exposed to counter-attacks, particularly in European fixtures, per tactical analysis. Victor Osimhen is their leading goalscorer with 13 goals this season.
This will be the first competitive meeting between the two clubs. Manchester City's defence faces challenges with several injured players and Rodri suspended for the match.
