Galatasaray vs. CFR Cluj - Preview & Predictions: Champions League 2012-13

Galatasaray was expected to be one of the top teams competing in Group H, but after two games, they have been the complete opposite.

Their 1-0 win to Manchester United was not a humiliating loss, but they failed to show offensive competency. They followed that up with more offensive incompetency against Braga. Turkey's top team has shown far better competency in their domestic league where they have 19 goals for in just 8 matches. However, they have not won in the Turkish League since Septemer 23^rd and have followed that with a loss and two draws. Umut Bulut leads the team with 6 goals in the Super Lig and 8 goals in all competitions and is expected to be a major contributor in the UCL.

However, they face off against a tough and surprising CFR Cluj who enters the match with a big on Braga in the first round and a strong loss to Man U. The Romanian side has shown flair and an aggressive manner that could prove to be the undoing for the Turkish side. However, this team has been playing just as poorly in the Romanian League as Galatasaray and has fallen to 10^th place in 12 games and is currently 13 points behind first and 10 behind second. The last time they were in the top 3 in the standings was back in the 5^th week of the season. Since then, they have meddled with no higher than 5^th place. A year ago this team only had 5 losses all season as it finished in First, but they have already accumulated four. Coach Ioan Andone's recent fight with keeper Nuno Claro has been well publicized and may be an indication of an unstable locker room. Galatasaray will look to take advantage.

Prediction: Galatasaray is better than they have shown and it is unlikely that they continue falling down the group standings as they have. 2-1 Galatasaray.

Schedule: 2:45 p.m. EDT