"I'm not playing, so why should I be ready?" İlkay Gündoğan said before Galatasaray's meeting with Barcelona, and the line says almost everything about his start to life in Istanbul. He has played just 10 minutes this season, with one appearance, and was an unused substitute in Galatasaray's last six league matches. The clubs meet on Tuesday in their second Champions League match of the season.

Gündogan's role at Galatasaray

The frustration is easy to understand from Gündoğan's side. One source has put his total at 11 minutes, but the verified figure used here is 10, and either way the point is the same: he has barely been involved. His last Champions League outing lasted only 10 minutes as well, which makes this reunion with Barcelona feel more awkward than routine.

It is also a sharp contrast with where he was before leaving Manchester City. Barcelona have not just moved on without him, they have surged into the tie with a nine-match winning run across all competitions, 39 goals scored and only 8 conceded this season. Their latest outing was a 3-0 win over Getafe.

Torreira and Barcelona's form

Lucas Torreira gave Galatasaray's message around the game as well as anyone. He said, "we are not going to change our style of play," and added that in midfield Barcelona have the best players. He wants Galatasaray to prepare the same way as they do against everyone else, stay aggressive when defending and look to hurt Barcelona when they win the ball back.

That approach is not naive. Barcelona are coming in on the back of a 5-1 Champions League win over Feyenoord, and Joan Laporta has been happy to talk up the level they are showing. There is also a real absence to factor in, with Raphinha confirmed out of the Galatasaray trip, while Lamine Yamal remains part of the threat Barcelona can still lean on.

Tuesday's game should tell us two things quickly. First, whether Gündoğan gets a real chance to answer his own frustration. Second, whether Galatasaray's aggressive plan can hold up against a Barcelona side that have already set a fast early pace in Europe.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →