Galatasaray and their new Russian midfielder Alexey Batrakov will play against Spanish giants Barcelona and reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League group stage, according to a report by Lenta.ru.
The draw sets up a head to head meeting between two Russian international players on Europe's biggest stage, as Batrakov prepares to face Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Matvey Safonov in the group phase.
Paris Saint-Germain enter the tournament as defending Champions League winners after securing the European title under head coach Luis Enrique. The French side defeated English Premier League club Arsenal in the final, which ended in a 1-1 draw after normal and extra time before Paris Saint-Germain prevailed 4-3 in the penalty shootout.
The UEFA Champions League brings together top football clubs from across the continent to compete in a group stage followed by knockout rounds. Paris Saint-Germain, based in the French capital, compete in Ligue 1 and earned their crown during a dramatic final campaign under Enrique.
Record transfer from Lokomotiv Moscow
Batrakov joined Galatasaray after completing a transfer from Russian Premier League club Lokomotiv Moscow. The Turkish side paid a transfer fee of 25 million euros to secure the signature of the midfielder, who agreed a five year contract with the Istanbul club.
Data from football statistics portal Transfermarkt shows that the 25 million euro deal ranks among the top ten most expensive incoming transfers in the history of the Turkish championship. The transaction also stands as the ninth highest transfer fee received for a player sold out of the Russian Premier League.
Galatasaray are one of Turkey's most successful football clubs, competing in the top flight Super Lig from their base in Istanbul. Lokomotiv Moscow are a prominent team in Russian football, regularly competing for domestic honours in the Russian Premier League.
European fixture outlook
The upcoming Champions League matches will bring Batrakov face to face with Safonov, who guards the goal for Paris Saint-Germain, as well as Spanish club Barcelona. The fixture schedule marks a significant milestone for both Russian players as their clubs begin their campaigns in Europe's premier competition.
