Atleti cancels Galatasaray friendly amid safety concerns

The two teams had been due to face each other at the Turk Telekom Arena in Istanbul, but the Spanish side have pulled the plug on the pre-season game and will not travel.

Atleti has won two and lost one of its three pre-season matches, with two more to come before it faces Alaves in La Liga on August 21.

Atletico Madrid has cancelled its friendly against Galatasaray on Saturday, amid safety concerns in Turkey.

The two teams had been due to face each other at the Turk Telekom Arena in Istanbul, but the Spanish side has pulled the plug on the pre-season game and will not travel.

A number of recent terror attacks in the country, along with an attempted coup, have led to security issues, with Atleti reportedly considering its participation in the fixture last week.

And it has now made the decision to forego the match, leaving a free weekend for both sides just a fortnight before its respective league campaigns get underway.

Galatasaray has played five friendlies, winning two and drawing two before being beaten 5-2 by Manchester United, ahead of its Super Kupa clash against Besiktas on August 13.

Atleti, meanwhile, has won two and lost one of its three pre-season matches, with two more to come before it faces Alaves in La Liga on August 21.