Oviedo's trip to Istanbul is no place for tired legs

Oviedo travel to Istanbul with their Champions League campaign balanced on a knife edge, and the timing is not kind. The Spanish side's record in their usual 4-2-3-1 has been ordinary: eleven games, three wins, five defeats, barely a point a game and more clear-cut chances conceded than created. Against a 4-4-2, though, they have looked a different team — two games unbeaten, four goals scored, two conceded. Galatasaray are expected to line up exactly that way.

The hosts have their own problems. Cüneyt Ayhan, the right-back, is out with a broken ankle and not expected back until around the end of March, which hands Orhan Eren the job of containing Javier. That is a mismatch on paper: Javier's pace and dribbling against Eren's tackling is the duel Oviedo will target. On the other flank, David Escrich — three assists in his last four games, a right-back who plays like a winger — must handle Kadir Öztürk, and his pace gives him the edge.

Up front, Galatasaray carry real threat. Ismael Rodriguez has two goals in three and Tekin Avcılar scored and set one up in his last outing, rated 8.0. Oviedo's answer is Roger Maah, averaging 7.37 across his last three, and Jesús Ruiz, whose shooting numbers are healthy even if his ratings dipped late.

The worry for the visitors is Diogo Antunes, who arrives tired. Oviedo need him sharp: Alberto is missing with a hip injury, and there is no like-for-like replacement for what Antunes gives them in the box. Galatasaray, for their part, will fancy the aerial and physical battle against a defence that has leaked a clear-cut chance every 62 minutes in this shape.

A point would steady Oviedo. Three would be a statement. Either way, they cannot afford to let Javier run at Eren all night.