Unbeaten in 36 Champions League group matches (W33 D3) and 15 consecutive victories in the group stage – Bayern's record runs in Europe's premier club competition are second to none and they have no intention of ending them any time soon. In keeping with the club motto "Weiter, immer weiter!" ("always keep going!"), the Munich men can set another best in Tuesday evening's match away to Galatasaray (18:45 CEST). fcbayern.com has rounded up the facts ahead of the clash with Turkey's most successful club.
Record hunt continues on the road
Hard to believe when you read the above numbers, but there are still group-stage records that Bayern don’t hold (for themselves). Although the Bavarians’ 2-1 success at FC Copenhagen on Matchday 2 did equal Juventus’ record of seven away wins in succession from 2019 to 2021. Victory in Istanbul would therefore make Thomas Tuchel’s team the outright record holders, as well as being the fifth year in a row that the Reds have started the prestigious competition with three wins.
Clear trend in German-Turkish clashes
Galatasaray have never registered a home win against German opponents in the Champions League (D3 L2) – not for the want of the loudness of their own fans. Even when Gala first hosted Bayern over 51 years ago – in the first round of the 1972/73 European Cup – they could only manage a 1-1 draw. In the return leg two weeks later, FCB won emphatically 6-0 in Munich. With that included, they’ve won their last five European meetings against Turkish teams by an aggregate score of 18-1.
Teenager Tel causing a stir
In both the opener against Manchester United (4-3) as well as the recent trip to Copenhagen, Mathys Tel scored Bayern's last goal of the game and therefore played a crucial role in his team's victory. The French youngster is only the second teenager who has scored more than once for the German record champions in a single Champions League campaign – teammate Kingsley Coman, who also netted two goals in 2015/16, is the other. Tel scored both of his after coming on and could now equal another record already: only Paulo Sérgio, on the way to the Champions League title in 2000/01, has bagged more goals off the bench (three) for Bayern in one season.
Galatasaray in form
On their last appearance in the Champions League in 2019/20, Galatasaray went out with a whimper with just two points and one goal in six group matches. This season, though, things are going well for the Istanbul club. For only the second time after 1998/99, the Turkish side have collected four points from the first two matchdays. The shock 3-2 success at Manchester United last time out ended a drought of 12 UCL outings without victory. At home, though, Gala have not tasted victory in the competition since a 3-0 win over Lokomotiv Moscow in September 2018, with three draws and three defeats at RAMS Park since then.
A more detailed look at Galatasaray:
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