Manchester Utd – Galatasaray : Preview & Prediction
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has “no excuses” to explain the Red Devils’ worst start to a league campaign in 34 years. The 1-0 defeat at home to Crystal Palace was their fourth in seven Premier League games (G3), while it was also their fifth in nine games in all competitions (G4), a run that includes their 4-3 loss to Bayern Munich. on the opening day of the UEFA Champions League (UCL).
Ten Hag must now get their European campaign back on track, but with five first-team defenders currently ruled out through injury, it may not be so easy, especially considering United have managed just one clean sheet in their last 13 UCL matches. Therefore, an increasingly agitated home crowd will have to get behind their team, but the fortress that is Old Trafford has been breached all too easily of late, as after being unbeaten in 31 consecutive home games, the Red Devils have now lost two of their last three on their home turf (G1).
The away side, Galatasaray, seem well positioned to take advantage of a beleaguered United considering they have yet to lose in 14 official matches this season (G11, E3). Okan Buruk’s men are getting used to second-half comebacks, pulling one off to salvage a point against Copenhagen on the opening day of the UCL, while they got all three after falling behind against MKE Ankaragucu at the weekend.
While the “Gala” are unbeaten away since April (G, E2), they have not won an away game in the UCL since March 2013 (E3, P14). Ending that drought now hinges on improving a rather miserable record when facing English opponents, as Galatasaray have won just three of 21 all-time meetings (E8, P10), a sequence that includes just one win in six against United (E3, P2). .
Players to watch: United captain Bruno Fernandes scored twice last time out against Turkish opposition, both coming before halftime in a 4-1 demolition of İstanbul Başakşehir. Wilfried Zaha scored his first goal in Galatasaray colors on Saturday, a perfect warm-up for his return home to face old rivals, especially as he has scored three in his last four games against the “Red Devils.”
Key stat: Both teams have scored in just one of six head-to-head meetings.
Manchester Utd – Galatasaray : Betting Tips
Manchester Utd – Win Odds: 1.70
