Five Dark Horses The European Giants Will Want To Avoid In Champions League Draw

BURSASPOR

Nickname:  The Green Crocodiles

Coach: Ertugrul Saglam

Saglam was a high-profile player in Turkey in the '90s, and scored over 100 goals during a six-year spell at Besiktas. At only 40, he already has excellent coaching experience. Bursapsor is his fourth SuperLig post.

His success with provincial clubs Samsunspor and Kayserispor earned him a crack at the Besiktas job in 2007, but despite a respectable season in the league, he also presided over the 8-0 humiliation by Liverpool in the Champions League. His title success at Bursa was achieved in his debut season at the club. 

How they got there

In very dramatic fashion. Fener went into the final day of the season as leaders, but only drew at home to Trabzon. This gave Saglam's men the chance to leapfrog them and take their first-ever title, which they did by beating reigning champions Besiktas 2-1.

This made Bursa just the fifth different side ever to win the title in Turkey, after Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, Besiktas and Trabzonspor.

Style of play

3-5-2 is Bursa's default. The strength of this in getting the most out of their wide men; Volkan Sen on the right and Ozan Ipek on the left. The speed of this pair and striker Sercan Yildirim should allow them to break quickly, though the shape was a little too open for the Champions League when Saglam used it with Besiktas. It will be fascinating to see how successful the tactics are this time around.

Goal machine: Ozan Ipek

Bursa were the league top scorers with 65, but the goals were spread around; Ipek and Pablo Batalla were joint top scorers with eight. The 23-year-old Ipek's most vital contribution was his brace in the final six minutes of February's clash with Fenerbahce, when he helped turn a 2-0 deficit into a dramatic victory with two trademark swishes of his trusty left boot.

Ipek can play either wide left or in the centre, though it was from the wing where he caused most damage last year. His form earned him a call up to the Turkey squad this year and he made his debut in March against Honduras. He is expected to provide competition in the national side for the feted Arda Turan.

Youngster to watch: Sercan Yildirim

This 20-year-old striker only netted four last season having hit 11 in the previous term, and stoked considerable Premier League interest. He has started the season well, netting the champions' winner against Konyaspor on the opening day. Yildirim played at every representative level for Turkey before making his debut for the senior side in summer 2009, and has already scored twice in five apearances.

A mobile second striker, Yildirim likes to use his considerable intelligence and link-up qualities, dropping to deep to start attacking moves or using his pace to fly in behind the back of an opposition defence.

How far will they go?

Bursa's title win was a welcome surprise and the Champions League is thus a bonus - the experience will be the main thing for them. They haven't spent lavishly this summer (unlike some of their SuperLig rivals), but have added some Champions League experience in the likes of Milan Stepanov and Leonel Nunez. Saglam's knowledge of the competition make Bursa a dangerous floater, and they will play without fear.

link