Galatasaray vs Tottenham Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Europa League | League Phase

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This has the potential to be a really thrilling encounter in Istanbul this week as Turkish champions Galatasaray look to continue their impressive 12-15 months or so up against a Tottenham Hotspur side that have enjoyed some huge wins recently. 

KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Thursday 7th November, 2024 - UK – 5:45pm / US ET – 12:45pm / US PT – 9:45am

HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised

HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Discovery+ / US – Paramount+

GALATASARAY PREVIEW: GOAL-TASTIC GALA

Galatasaray have been magnificent in the Turkish Super Lig in the last couple of years and the Istanbul giants sit at the top-of-the-table are once again sitting at the top-of-the-table, three points clear of newly-promoted Samsunspor with a game-in-hand. Their most recent outing saw them defeat Besiktas by two goals to one in an Istanbul derby.

In the UEFA Europa League, they have collected seven points from their opening three matches. They defeated PAOK Salonika by three goals to one in September before a 2-2 draw against Rigas Futbola Skola at the start of October. That was followed by an entertaining 4-3 victory over Elfsborg a couple of weeks ago. 

TOTTENHAM PREVIEW: FINDING CONSISTENCY

Ange Postecoglou and his Tottenham Hotspur side have started their 2024/25 UEFA Europa League league phase campaign very impressively with three successive victories. They defeated Qarabag by three goals to nil in their opener before more slender victories against Ferencvaros and then AZ Alkmaar.

In the Premier League, Spurs have been inconsistent but they came from behind to hammer Aston Villa by four goals to one at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at the weekend and that came just a few days after they had beaten Manchester City by two goals to one in the fourth round of the EFL Cup. 

GALATASARAY TEAM NEWS: STAR STUDDED GALA

Galatasaray have a squad chock full of some big name star players, none more so than in attack where Victor Osimhen, Mauro Icardi and Dries Mertens are.

They are dealing with one injury concern for this weekend’s clash against Tottenham as defender Ismail Jakobs is unavailable with a knee injury.

PREDICTED XI (3-4-1-2): Guvenc; Ayhan, Davinson Sanchez, Bardakci; Yilmaz, Lucas Torreira, Sara, Akgun; Mertens; Osimhen, Mauro Icardi

UNAVAILABLE: Jakobs (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE: 

TOTTENHAM TEAM NEWS: CENTRE-BACK DUO OUT

Cristian Romero went off injured against Aston Villa at the weekend and that means he has joined fellow centre-back Micky van de Ven on the sidelines for this one.

As well as Romero and Van de Ven, Spurs are still dealing without attacking duo Wilson Odobert and Richarlison, whilst Djed Spence is also a doubt for this one. 

PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Forster; Gray, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie; Bergvall, Rodrigo Bentancur, Maddison; Moore, Solanke, Werner

UNAVAILABLE: Romero (Injured), Van de Ven (Injured), Odobert (Injured), Richarlison (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE: Spence (Injured)

KEY STATS

• Galatasaray have lost only two of their last ten UEFA competition matches at home against English teams (W3 D5).
• Galatasaray have lost only one of their previous 15 UEFA Europa League group/league phase matches (W9 D5).
• Galatasaray have won six and drawn two of their previous eight UEFA Europa League group/league phase matches at home.
• Galatasaray have won nine and drawn two of their last 11 matches in all competitions.
• Galatasaray have won six and drawn one of their last seven competitive home matches.
• Tottenham’s only three previous UEFA competition matches against Turkish opposition were all against Beşiktaş. The first encounter was a 2-0 away win in Istanbul in the 2006/07 UEFA Cup group stage. More recently, they drew 1-1 at home and lost 1-0 away in the 2014/15 UEFA Europa League group stage.
• Tottenham have won nine of their last 11 matches in the UEFA Europa League competition proper (D1 L1).
• Tottenham have won ten of their last 12 UEFA Europa League group/league phase matches (D1 L1).
• Tottenham have lost only three of their last 17 UEFA Europa League group/league phase matches away from home.
• Tottenham have kept three clean sheets in their last four UEFA competition matches.

GALATASARAY VS TOTTENHAM PREDICTION

Galatasaray play an entertaining style of football and are leading the way in many goal scoring categories across Europe. One thing that they have been very strong at is scoring from set-pieces, which is something Tottenham have no gained a reputation for being susceptible to. As a result, it would seem likely Gala score, especially with home advantage, but the form of Spurs would suggest they will be confident on the counter-attack, too. 

GALATASARAY VS TOTTENHAM TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE