World Soccer - UK (2020-11)

GREATEST GAMES

2002

July 31

Galatasaray 2-0 Olympiakos

The stadium hosted its first game onJuly 31, 2002, as

Galatasaray played Olympiakos in a friendly in front of

a record 79,414 crowd. More than just a regular friendly,

it was part of a launched bid from Turkey and Greece to

host Euro 2008 together, in spite of their fractious history.

2005

May 25

Milan 3-3 (P) Liverpool

Probably the most famous Champions League final of all

time. An early strike from Paolo Maldini and a brace from

Hernan Crespo were cancelled out in the second half by

three goals in just six minutes, scored by Steven Gerrard,

Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso, before goalkeeping

heroics fromJerzy Dudek in the penalty shoot-out.

2013

September 22

Besiktas 0-3 Galatasaray

The first game between these two Istanbul giants in 2013-14

took place at the Ataturk as Besiktas awaited the construction

of their new ground. Ex-Chelsea striker Didier Drogba struck

twice as Gala secured a comfortable win in front of a 77,512-

strong crowd, the stadium’s second-highest ever attendance.

D

ue to host the 2020 final before

COVID-19 struck, the Ataturk

Olympic Stadium will finally get

the chance to host its second

Champions League final in May 2021.

Situated on the outskirts of Istanbul,

the five-star sports complex is named

after Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder

and first president of the Republic of

Turkey, and was built for Turkey’s failed

bid for the 2008 Olympic Games at

a cost of $140 million.

Certified by World Athletics and the

International Olympic Committee as a

first-class venue for track and field, it is

the largest-capacity stadium in Turkey

and hosts a number of the national

team’s fixtures. Besiktas were the most

recent Super Lig club to use the arena

while their own stadium, Vodafone Park,

was under construction during the

2015-16 campaign, while it has also

been the temporary home of Istanbul

Basaksehir, Galatasaray and Kasimpasa.

Location:Istanbul, Turkey

Team:N/A

Built: 2002

Capacity:75, 145

NEXT ISSUE ON SALE OCTOBER 30

ATATATATURK OLYMPIC STADIUMURK OLYMPIC STADIUM

Intimidating atmosphere...Hosting a Turkish Cup final STSTADIUMSADIUMS

between Galatasaray and

Fenerbahce back in 2005

Unique...View from

outside the ground

Trouble...Besiktas fans clash with

police during a game v Galatasaray

Glory...Scene of Liverpool’s

amazing 2005 CL triumph