- Date and Time: Thursday, February 20, 2025, 18:45 GMT+1
- Venue: RAMS Park, Istanbul, Turkey
| Odds via 22bet | |
| Galatasaray vs AZ Alkmaar | Thursday, February 20, 2025, 18:45 GMT+1 |
| Galatasaray odds | 1.63 |
| AZ Alkmaar odds | 4.66 |
| Draw | 4.46 |
| Over 3 | 1.67 |
Galatasaray vs AZ Alkmaar Preview and Team News
Galatasaray Team News
Galatasaray and Alkmaar will meet in Thursday’s UEFA Europa League knockout phase. It’ll boil down to which team wants to proceed to the next round the most. While tactical brilliance and strategies have a place of their own in modern football, the desire of the players to push past pain barriers indicates their desire to win the trophy.
Instant impact on his first game back.
Welcome back, Mario 😍 pic.twitter.com/bvWqgpKYsx
— Galatasaray EN (@Galatasaray) February 17, 2025
Galatasaray will be keen on pleasing their fans. While they like to remain organised at the back, the hosts push forward and play well on the ball whenever they regain possession. They’re among the few European clubs who field a different shape when they lose the ball compared to when they have it.
Yet, with Kaan Ayhan suspended for this game, the home side will be disgruntled. They’ll also miss Alvaro Morata, Ismail Jakobs, Mauro Icardi, and Yunus Akgun.
Galatasaray predicted lineup vs AZ Alkmaar (3-4-1-2): Muslera; Cuesta, Bardakci, Kutlu; Sara, Jelert, Demirbay, Sallai; Mertens; Yilmaz, Osimhen.
AZ Alkmaar Team News
Alkmaar, who have got an extra day to prepare for Thursday’s challenge, will want to sharpen their defence a tad more.
They know very well that playing away from home, especially in Istanbul, is not an easy task. But if they manage to focus on the basics of football, they should be able to glide through the event quite comfortably.
🐺 𝘿𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨!#AZAlkmaar #UEL #azgal #TheFutureIsOurs pic.twitter.com/mWRPJXFtk5
— AZ (@AZAlkmaar) February 16, 2025
Their wingers and fullbacks, who like to overlap each other on the odd occasion, will need to step up to the challenges. They must use opportunities to pass the ball to more attacking-minded teammates in the final third or give it back to a central midfielder who can recycle it.
The absence of Mexx Meerdink is confirmed for Alkmaar. The likes of Ibrahim Sadiq, Ruben van Bommel, and Sem Westerveld are doubtful starters.
AZ Alkmaar predicted lineup vs Galatasaray (4-2-3-1): Owusu-Oduro; Kasius, Goes, Penetra, Wolfe; Clasie, Koopmeiners, Addai; Mijnans, Lahdo; Parrott.
Bet hereGalatasaray vs AZ Alkmaar Prediction
- Pick: Galatasaray to win
- Odds: 1.63 (22Bet)
- Score prediction: Galatasaray 2-1 AZ Alkmaar
Galatasaray are the favourites to win later this week, and we expect them to do so. However, for the overall qualification into the next round of the tournament, it will be silly to think that Alkmaar do not have a shot.
They won the first leg of this match by a 4-1 scoreline and are placed in an extraordinary position to knock the Turkish giants out of this tournament. Galatasaray may win this event but fail to qualify for the round of sixteen stage of the competition.
Galatasaray vs AZ Alkmaar Prediction, Betting Tip
- Pick: Both teams to score
- Odds: 1.48 (22Bet)
Both teams are expected to score on Thursday, just as we saw happen in the first leg. This time around, Galatasaray may have the upper hand in the final third as they’ll be playing at home, but Alkmaar should not be taken lightly by any means.
They’ve seen both teams to score in four out of their last five encounters. Incidentally, both games played between these sides in the past have also seen BTTS.
The absence of Icardi and Morata in the home squad will prove to be quite a blessing for the visitors, as the duo is known for their rampant goalscoring all across Europe. Both players are target men who like to find the back of the net on almost every occasion. Alkmaar may heave a sigh of relief at their absence and prepare accordingly.
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