After more than a month without European football, Galatasaray are set to play their first Europa League match of the year as they welcome Dynamo Kiev to Rams Park this midweek.
This will be the first competitive meeting between the two sides, with their only previous encounter being a friendly that ended 3-1 in favour of the Ukrainian team.
Match preview
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Considered one of the favourites to lift this season's Europa League trophy, Galatasaray have not had the smoothest run in their recent outings in the competition.
Cimbom have failed to win either of their last two games on the continental stage, drawing 1-1 away to AZ Alkmaar before being held to a 2-2 stalemate by Malmo at Eleda Stadion.
However, that has done little to shake their status as strong contenders, as they sit sixth in the standings with 12 points from three victories and three draws, making them one of just five teams yet to suffer defeat in the competition.
In fact, the 2024-25 campaign has been nothing short of remarkable for Gala, who are unbeaten in 24 matches across all competitions.
Their most recent outing saw them held to a 1-1 draw against Hatayspor, leaving the Lion six points clear at the top of the Turkish Super Lig table.
Returning for their seventh Europa League fixture of the season at their fortress, where they have won all three matches in the competition, victory against the struggling visitors would not be far-fetched as Okan Buruk's side aim to strengthen their bid for automatic qualification to the next round.
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Sitting bottom of the standings and already mathematically eliminated from contention following a 3-0 defeat to Real Sociedad, Dynamo have only pride to play for as they travel to Istanbul in search of their first point in the competition.
The Blue and Whites' struggles stem from their frailties at both ends, having netted just once — the fewest in the Europa League — while conceding the most (15), their worst defensive record in a major European campaign since 2020-21, when they let in 18.
Their porous defence will be severely tested against the hosts' prolific attack, which has netted 15 times, the joint-highest in the tournament, making Tuesday's clash even more daunting for the visitors.
Further adding to Dynamo's woes is their recent record against Turkish opponents, having lost each of their last four meetings across all competitions — more defeats than in their first 22 such encounters, where they won 13, drew six and lost just three.
The visitors' last competitive match was a 1-0 league victory over Veres on December 16, keeping them top of the Ukrainian top flight, and they have since played five friendlies, winning the last two against Maribor and CSKA 1948 Sofia with 2-0 and 4-1 scorelines, respectively.
Team News
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Galatasaray's Dries Mertens has registered an assist in each of his last three Europa matches and is expected to start once again on Tuesday.
The Belgian midfielder could become the first player in the competition's history to reach 70 appearances, with his current tally of 69 level with Atalanta goalkeeper Rui Patricio.
Joint-top scorer in the tournament, Yunus Akgun, who has five goals, is expected to start on the flank, while summer loanee Victor Osimhen, with 14 goals in 18 games across all competitions, is likely to lead the line again after scoring in the previous outing.
On the injury front, the hosts remain without veteran striker Mauro Icardi, who is out for the season with a cruciate ligament injury, while midfielder Gabriel Sara is also sidelined with a hamstring issue.
As for the visitors, they will be without the services of Volodymyr Shepelev, Andriy Yarmolenko and Brayan Ceballos, with all players ruled out with injuries.
Dynamo's only goal in this season's Europa was scored by Vladyslav Kabaeiv, who is expected to retain his place on the flank, while Vladyslav Vanat could lead the line once again as he searches for his first goal in the competition.
Galatasaray possible starting lineup:
Muslera; Sanchez, Baltaci, Bardakci, Jakobs; Torreira, Demirbay, Akgun, Mertens, Yilmaz; Osimhen
Dynamo Kiev possible starting lineup:
Bushchan; Tymchyk, Popov, Mykhavko, Vivcharenko; Brazhko, Shaparenko; Kabaev, Buyalskyy, Voloshyn; Vanat
We say: Galatasaray 3-0 Dynamo Kiev
Galatasaray enter this fixture as clear favourites, having won each of their three home matches in the competition, with their firepower in attack expected to overwhelm the visitors, who have the worst defensive record in the tournament.
A comfortable victory for the hosts is predicted, as Cimbom's push for a top-eight finish should carry more weight than Dynamo's battle for pride.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
