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UEFA Europa League - Galatasaray VS AZ Alkmaar Prediction
UEFA Europa League - Galatasaray VS AZ Alkmaar
Match Time:21-02-2025 01:45 Friday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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Galatasaray went into the playoff as one of the seeded teams but have a big job ahead against a previously unseeded side. They need to score at least three goals without conceding any to have a chance of progressing.
This match marks the third meeting between the teams in this season’s competition. The first two were hosted in the Netherlands, producing a 1-1 draw and the recent Galatasaray 4-1 loss.
The Turkish side arrives for this game winless in five straight Europa League matches, the latest two ending in defeats to Dutch sides. However, they are unbeaten in five home matches in the Europa League, winning four.
AZ are eyeing a place in the last 16 of the Europa League for the first time since 2013/14. They weren’t strong finishers in the league phase but could well find themselves in the round of 16, helped on by their big first leg win.
Their last away match in the Europa League ended in a 4-3 defeat at Ferencvaros and the Dutch side will have their fears coming here.
Maarten Martens' side is winless in the last seven away matches in the Europa League, losing six times. Coming into this game on four straight wins will, however, boost their confidence as they seek a first away win in Europe this season.
As Galatasaray seek to overturn this tie, they will welcome a massive boost in the return of Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian forward was suspended for the first leg and will have a good feeling coming back for this. So why is Osimhen important for Gala?
He scored in the first meeting between the two this season and will want to keep this run going. In the run up to this game, he scored twice to engineer a 2-1 win at Rizespor.
Those were his 18th and 19th goals for the club and in that tally, five were scored in the Europa League. Osimhen, a Napoli loanee has given Galatasaray value for money.
His passing range is another key attribute, having managed 66.2% pass accuracy. In the Europa League he has taken 42 shots and has 8.37 expected goals return. He will definitely be a thorn to AZ.
Troy Parrott is to AZ what Osimhen is to Galatasaray. Though his numbers are a bit lower than Osimhen's, the Irish forward is a man to watch. He has four Europa League goals from an expected goals return of 3.48.
Parrott has one assist in this competition and even scored in the first leg meeting between these teams. He has attempted 13 shots in the nine matches he has played in the Europa League this season.
Though his shot accuracy stands at 46%, Parrott remains a danger to Galatasaray.
Galatasaray possible starting lineup:
Muslera; Jelert, Sanchez, Bardakci, Kutlu; Torreira, Sara; Sallai, Mertens, Yilmaz; Osimhen
AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:
Owusu-Oduro; Kasius, Goes, Penetra, Wolfe; Clasie, Koopmeiners; Poku, Mijnans, Lahdo; Parrott
Galatasaray vs AZ Alkmaar Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
Galatasaray have scored 3+ goals in each of their last five home games in the Europa League.
AZ Alkmaar are currently on a four-game winning run across competitions, winning each game by a 2+ goal margin.
AZ Alkmaar's Europa League games this season have produced an average of 3.44 goals per game. Galatasaray's games have produced an average of 4.44 goals.
Galatasaray have not won a home Europa League game by more than two goals since October 2009.
AZ have scored at least two goals in their last five competitive games.
AZ are unbeaten in three away games played in Turkey in European club competition (two draws).
Prediction: Galatasaray 3-2 AZ Alkmaar (AZ Alkmaar win 6-4 on aggregate)
Galatasaray have not lost once in 24 league matches, but European competition exposes their flaws: their Europa League home games have averaged 5.5 goals, and that trend could continue. After a league-phase draw with AZ and last week's defeat, Gala's win at the third attempt will be futile.
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