It is 30 years since Manchester United's most famous trip to Istanbul with Champions League elimination on the line. Galatasaray created an unwelcome hell that Cerberus would have been proud of and a night of sin ended with Alex Ferguson's side being dumped out of Europe.
United, realistically, required a win to progress after drawing 3-3 in the first leg of the second-round tie at Old Trafford but the atmosphere in Turkey subdued the visitors and the second leg stuttered to a goalless draw. Eric Cantona was sent off late on for his frustrations with the referee and the home team's addiction to timewasting.
There was a post-match melee in the tunnel involving the United squad and riot police as the trip ended like it began - with intimidation. Many of United's team froze, unable to deal with the ferocious and vociferous atmosphere they faced.
The match tomorrow is not a knockout game but in truth the scenario is not much different.
Defeat against Galatasaray would again end United's Champions League's campaign prematurely while a win, assuming Copenhagen lose against Bayern Munich, would put qualifying for the latter stages back in their hands. United will face the same atmosphere as they did 30 years ago because the home fans know victory would turn their subsequent trip to Denmark into a potential shootout for who goes through with Bayern, with the achievement of knocking out a club with the storied history of United only adding to the pleasure.
This story is from the November 28, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the November 28, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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