UEFA Champions League Preview: Galatasaray vs Juventus – Team News, Lineups & Prediction | OneFootball

Rams Park is the venue as Galatasaray and Juventus go head-to-head in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout playoff tie. Both teams amassed three victories each during the league phase, yet seven places separated them in the standings.

Despite winning three of their opening four league-stage outings, Galatasaray had to settle for a 20th-place finish. Indeed, Okan Buruk’s side faltered toward the end of the first phase, suffering three defeats in their last four Champions League matches (D1).

Nonetheless, the reigning Super Lig holders have secured knockout qualification at Europe’s top table for the first time since the 2013/14 season. However, they’ll be keen to erase the memory of that campaign, as Chelsea ended their continental journey in the first knockout round, drawing confidence from an impressive four-game winning streak in all competitions.

On the other hand, Juventus will be out to restore a feel-good factor following a controversial 3-2 defeat to Inter in Saturday’s Derby d’Italia. Referee Federico La Penna came under heavy scrutiny after wrongly sending off Pierre Kalulu in the first half, which condemned Luciano Spalletti’s team to a third consecutive winless game (D1, L2).

On the bright side, Juventus fared reasonably well during the league phase, barring a heart-wrenching 1-0 defeat at Real Madrid on Matchday 3. Indeed, the record-time Italian champions went unbeaten in all six remaining Champions League fixtures this season (W3, D3), securing a respectable 13th-place finish.

Match Preview

Galatasaray

Despite boasting a flawless four-game record in February following a 2-0 loss at Manchester City in their last Champions League outing, Galatasaray’s European form cannot inspire confidence. In addition to failing to win four consecutive continental fixtures (D1, L3), Buruk’s misfiring squad drew a blank on three occasions during that underwhelming sequence.

Against this backdrop, Galatasaray hammered fellow Super Lig rivals Eyupspor 5-1 last Friday, meaning they’ve now scored at least three goals in four successive matches. That victory allowed the Lions to tighten their grip on top spot in the league table and likely lifted the hosts’ spirits ahead of this high-stakes encounter.

Further confidence stems from Galatasaray’s decent home form on the continental front, with the Turkish powerhouse suffering just one defeat across their last 11 home games in UEFA competition (W6, D4). Moreover, they’ve only lost once in their six previous Champions League meetings with Juventus (W2, D3).

Juventus

The visitors won’t be fazed by their historic struggles in this match-up, knowing their last encounter against Galatasaray dates back to 2013. However, just one win from five games (D2, L2) in the build-up to this trip is unlikely to see the Bianconeri take the field in a buoyant mood, especially considering both defeats in that stretch came on the road.

Defensive solidity could help Juventus buck this negative trend, and after keeping three consecutive clean sheets toward the end of the league phase, they should feel optimistic. Furthermore, the Turin giants have yet to lose a single Champions League match under Spalletti (W3, D2), so they should still travel with optimism.

History beckons for Juventus here, given that they could become the first-ever Italian club to beat Galatasaray in Istanbul. But with five of Juve’s last six Champions League fixtures producing under 2.5 goals, another tight and cagey affair could be on the cards tonight.

Team News

With former Juventus star Mario Lemina serving a suspension, Gabriel Sara is likely to join forces with Ilkay Gundogan in midfield. Meanwhile, star winger Leroy Sane has recently resumed full training, but he should start from the bench, with Noa Lang expected to support talismanic striker Victor Osimhen in attack.

As for Juventus, out-of-form center-forward Jonathan David has joined long-term absentees Arkadiusz Milik and Dusan Vlahovic in the treatment room. With the Canadian ace ruled out, Lois Openda could lead the line, though utility man Weston McKennie might be Spalletti’s go-to option. In addition, winter signing Emil Holm is unavailable due to a foot injury.

Galatasaray vs Juventus Potential Starting Lineups

Galatasaray (4-2-3-1): Cakir; Sallai, Bardakci, Sanchez, Jakobs; Torreira, Sara; Yilmaz, Gundogan, Lang; Osimhen.

Juventus (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Conceicao, Miretti, Yildiz; McKennie.

Galatasaray vs Juventus Prediction

Galatasaray have hit a purple patch at the best moment and will be looking to extend their indomitable home record against Serie A clubs. Whether morally-plagued Juventus could throw a spanner in the works remains questionable, as we back the hosts to secure a narrow first-half advantage.