Bursaspor ready for Champions League bow - 7M sport

Bursaspor ready for Champions League bow



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Posted Tuesday, September 14, 2010 by PA

Bursaspor venture into uncharted waters as they make the first-ever appearance in the Champions League, with Valencia the side looking to spoil the party at the Ataturk stadium.

Bursaspor last season clinched their maiden Turkish Super Lig title - the first time in 26 years that a team not based in Istanbul had achieved the feat - and that earned them their chance to compete alongside Europe's big guns.

Ertugrul Saglam's men, who have also been paired alongside British sides Manchester United and Rangers in Group C, have continued this season where the left off last and are already top of the Turkish standings again after winning each of their opening four matches, conceding just one goal in the process.

Bursaspor may not have the European history of the other teams in their group, but Valencia coach Unai Emery insists his side will not be treating them lightly.

"They were a little-known team, but the champions of the Turkish league are no longer that. We have the utmost respect for them. With all that we've seen we feel they are a great team," said Emery, whose side are back in the Champions League following an absence of two years after finishing third in Spain's Primera Division last season.

"They are a physical team, who play with a lot of speed. We are going to try and cancel out their strengths and make the most of ours. We will go out with the intention to win, that's the only mentality."

Valencia are also in good form heading into the game as well though, beating Malaga and Racing Santander in their opening two games of the new Primera Division season.

Los Che will be without midfielder Ever Banega and winger Vicente Rodriguez through injury but otherwise Emery has taken a strong 20-man squad with him to Turkey.

Among that party is midfielder Mehmet Topal, who should know plenty about Bursaspor having spent the last four seasons at Turkish giants Galatasaray before switching to Spain this summer.

The Turkey international said: "The Bursaspor fans will be their 12th player, they keep going throughout the match, but there's no need to take this as a disadvantage, only that Valencia will have to go out and do their jobs to win.

"Bursaspor have good players but the squad is very good, we need to take care with the whole team, not any specific individual."

Topal added: "All the teams in the Champions League are very strong, but Valencia would like to get through the group and we will do everything we can to win."



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