Galatasaray hosts Anderlecht in Champions League opener

ISTANBUL

Galatasaray’s Tarık Çamdal (C) tries to dribble past two Eskişehirspor players. DHA photo

Galatasaray starts its Champions League campaign with a home match against Anderlecht tonight in the opening game of a tough group that includes title hopefuls Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund.

Anderlecht comes to Istanbul as a team on a roll, leading the Belgian Pro League with 14 points after seven match days. Galatasaray, however, had less time to get in shape and played only its second league game on Sept. 13, with a goalless draw to Eskişehirspor.

In the other Group A game, Dortmund hosts Arsenal.

Elsewhere, Liverpool hosts Bulgarian newcomers Ludogorets in its first Champions League appearance in five years, while defending champion Real Madrid takes on FC Basel. Last year’s beaten finalist Atletico Madrid visits Olympiacos, Juventus takes on Malmö, Monaco meets Bayer Leverkusen and Benfica plays against Zenit.