Galatasaray to take on Greek side PAOK in 319th European match

By Emrah Oktay

ISTANBUL (AA) - Galatasaray is set to host Greece’s PAOK at Istanbul’s Rams Park on Wednesday in the first week of the UEFA Europa League, their 319th match in European competitions.

In their 318 matches in European football competitions, the Lions have won 113 games while they were defeated in 121 and drew in 84.

- Galatasaray won UEFA Cup in 2000

Galatasaray is set to play their 95th game in the UEFA Europa League, which before 2009 was known as the UEFA Cup.

The Lions, which have racked up 37 wins, 31 draws and 26 defeats in European football's second-tier club-level tournament, bagged the trophy in the 1999-2000 season by beating Arsenal 4-1 on penalties.

In these matches, Galatasaray scored 146 goals and conceded 119 goals.

- Lions lost just 1 match to Greek teams

This will be Galatasaray’s seventh European match against a Greek team.

The Lions have 5 wins and 1 defeat in European competition matches against Greek teams, including Panathinaikos, Panionios and Olympiakos.

This will be their first time facing off against PAOK.

PAOK has already squared off against two other Turkish teams: twice with Fenerbahce and once with Besiktas, both Istanbul powerhouses.

The Thessaloniki club scored a win and a draw with Fenerbahce and a suffered a defeat to Besiktas.

- Galatasaray's performance in European competitions

Galatasaray's performance in European competitions is as follows:

* Writing by Selcuk Bugra Gokalp