Man Utd captain’s arm ‘ripped open’ in hot-blooded first CL clash at Galatasaray

The Champions League showdown between Manchester United and Galatasaray will go ahead as planned at Rams Park on Wednesday despite torrential weather – but some travelling fans may wish it didn't.

United's midweek trip to Istanbul falls almost exactly 30 years after the Red Devils first visited Istanbul in November 1993. Sir Alex Ferguson had just won his first Premier League title and took his side to the cauldron that was Ali Sami Yen Stadium for a second-leg clash in the Champions League second round.

It was a game that would go down in history – but not for the quality of the football on the pitch considering it ended 0-0, with United bowing out on away goals. Steve Bruce was one of those present for a tense duel that saw Eric Cantona sent off after the final whistle and one prominent member of the English outfit leaking 'everywhere'.

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"Hundreds of coppers with big Rottweilers barking at you, straining on the leash," Bruce told the Daily Mail in 2016. "One started giving Eric some gyp, so Eric decided to give it back.

"Now we're all getting battered. Bryan Robson, captain of England, he's in there. Typical Bryan, he's swung this punch and there's a hook on the wall. Nowhere near the fella he's trying to hit, but he's caught his elbow on it, ripped his arm completely open.

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"Blood everywhere. He's screaming, and a big Turk comes in and boots him. So now we're tearing into them, trying to fight our way out of there, and over my shoulder I see Fergie come flying back down the stairs. He's taking his jacket off as he comes. He's over 50 years old, but he's straight in, wades in. We eventually get back to the dressing room."

Lead by example, and all that. Despite being knocked out of Europe before Christmas, United did manage to celebrate a domestic double after defending their league crown and adding an FA Cup to the cabinet.

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Ferguson's side wouldn't manage to clinch continental honours until the famed treble of 1999, though it's just as well Galatasaray weren't on their schedule that season. In fact, United have never managed to beat the Super Lig side in Istanbul, which is testament to the intimidating atmosphere.

Gala twice came from behind to beat Erik ten Hag's side 3-2 at Old Trafford in October and are out to repeat that trick on Wednesday. And while fans will be hoping for a quality clash with everything to play for, here's hoping every player makes it through the visit fully intact.

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