Sports Mole previews Thursday’s Europa League clash between Galatasaray and AZ Alkmaar, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Facing a three-goal deficit from last week’s first leg, Galatasaray must try to pull off a miraculous comeback when they host AZ Alkmaar on Thursday.
The teams’ Europa League playoff will conclude in Istanbul, with Gala needing to defy history to knock AZ out. Whoever prevails will face either Manchester United or Tottenham Hotspur in the last 16.
Match preview
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Though Roland Sallai‘s strike cancelled out a spectacular Sven Mijnans free kick to haul Galatasaray level in Alkmaar, the Turkish giants ultimately suffered a 4-1 defeat, with the second-half dismissal of Kaan Ayhan proving costly.
AZ capitalised by scoring twice more after retaking the lead through a Troy Parrott penalty, leaving Gala with a steep mountain to climb ahead of this week’s return.
Okan Buruk can still dream of an incredible comeback, though, as his side have scored three or more goals in six of their last seven European home games. As Cimbom have also netted at least three in all of their last five Europa League home fixtures, their notoriously fervent fans will retain hope.
Yet, Galatasaray have conceded at least once in their last 21 continental matches, and shipping one more this week would surely end any prospects of reaching the last 16.
History is not on Gala’s side: there have been 57 previous cases of a team losing the first leg of a Europa League knockout tie by three or more goals, and just one has progressed. Valencia did so against Basel in 2014 – losing 3-0, before winning 5-0 one week later.
After their previous Super Lig match was abruptly ended when the entire Adana Demirspor team walked off in protest, the Turkish champions – and current league leaders – beat Caykur Rizespor in a more conventional contest on Monday.
Star man Victor Osimhen bagged a brace in Rize, and his return from UEFA suspension will give the hosts a much-needed boost on Thursday evening.
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With such a healthy advantage, AZ are certainly in the box seat – and they have had the weekend off from domestic duty to prepare.
Only Ajax have conceded fewer goals in the Eredivisie this season, but they have been a little less resilient on the European scene so far.
Indeed, Maarten Marten’s men were three down at half time in their last away game, against league-phase opponents Ferencvaros, though they still went on to win 4-3.
While, with 20 goals, Galatasaray are top scorers in the 2024-25 Europa League, AZ sit third in those rankings with only three fewer, so it could even turn into a spectacular shootout.
Including last week’s win, the Alkmaar club are on a four-match success streak, with victory in the KNVB Beker quarter-finals sandwiched between 2-0 top-flight defeats of Willem II and PEC Zwolle.
So, they will step into what is sure to be a warm welcome fully believing they can knock out one of the favourites.
Galatasaray Europa League form:
Galatasaray form (all competitions):
AZ Alkmaar Europa League form:
AZ Alkmaar form (all competitions):
Team News
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Galatasaray will have Davinson Sanchez, Lucas Torreira and Victor Osimhen back from bans, and the latter leads an attack deprived of fellow high-profile strikers Alvaro Morata (hamstring) and Mauro Icardi (ACL).
Yunus Akgun and Ismail Jakobs are both sidelined with muscular injuries; and, after his dismissal in Alkmaar, versatile defender Kaan Ayhan will be missing from the hosts’ lineup.
Furthermore, new wing-back Przemyslaw Frankowski set up one of Osimhen’s goals against Rizespor, and Gabon midfielder Mario Lemina also made his first appearance, but neither made it onto Gala’s updated UEFA squad list.
Meanwhile, AZ are still without Ruben van Bommel, Sem Westerveld and Ibrahim Sadiq due to injury, but Kristijan Belic returns after serving a Europa League suspension.
Belic will compete with Kees Smit – who scored against Galatasaray in November’s 1-1 league-phase draw – and Jordy Clasie to partner Peer Koopmeiners in central midfield.
Sven Mijnans supports top scorer Troy Parrott up front: the latter has registered 17 goals across all competitions this season, including three goals in his last three Europa League appearances.
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
We say: 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.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
