With domestic form steadily improving after opening day disappointment, Manchester United’s 2012/13 Champions League bid opens with a home game against old foes Galatasaray in Group H on Wednesday. The Reds have previously faced Turkish opposition 12 times in Europe’s premier club competition, with mixed results.
First up were Galatasaray in the infamous "Welcome to Hell" second-round tie in 1993. After a 3-3 draw at Old Trafford, Sir Alex’s men were knocked out on away goals following a 0-0 draw in Istanbul. The sides played out another stalemate at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium the following season, before the Reds finally recorded a win over the current Turkish champions when David Beckham scored his first senior goal in 4-0 home triumph.
Fenerbahce have also proved tough opponents, winning two of their four encounters with United. They became the first team to beat the Reds at Old Trafford in Europe in 1996, but were hammered 6-2 on their return in 2004, as 18 year old debutant Wayne Rooney hit a hat-trick.
Besiktas then snatched a 1-0 win in 2009 to end the Reds’ 24-game unbeaten home run in the competition. But Bursaspor provided no such surprise, with United claiming two comfortable victories in 2010.
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