When Galatasaray beat Real Madrid 2-1 in the Super Cup final in Monaco last August, the Turkish club's players and fans celebrated as if they had won the European Cup itself rather than just the friendly curtain-raiser to the season's European club competitions.

There were wild scenes of delight both in the stadium and in Istanbul, so it's not hard to imagine the effect victory in a serious competitive match will have. Galatasaray head into the first leg confident they have the credentials to bring down the European champions again. Coach Mirceau Lucescu says of his side: "Our biggest weapon is that we're not afraid of Real Madrid. Other teams go into matches with them afraid and come out losing 1-0. We're the side with the upper hand psychologically."

Captain Bulent Korkmaz, winger Hasan Sas and sweeper Gheorghe Popescu are expected to shake off nagging injuries as is veteran playmaker Gheorghe Hagi. For Real, Fernando Morientes has been suffering from a groin strain but should be fit to partner Raul in attack. Fernando Hierro will lead a four-man defence in front of Iker Casillas, still only 19 but already a veteran of such matches.