Following their 2-1 victory over rivals Besiktas last Monday, Galatasaray relished a week’s respite, further solidifying their lead at the summit of the Turkish Süper Lig table. With nine wins from their first ten league fixtures (D1), Okan Buruk’s team has made an outstanding start to their domestic season. Additionally, remaining unbeaten in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) group stage after three matches (W2, D1) suggests they are well on course for advancing to the European knockout stages.
However, what might dampen spirits for the hosts is their recent record against English teams as they prepare for this inaugural European clash with Tottenham. The Turkish side has managed just one victory in their last six encounters with English clubs (D2, L3), so they will be depending on their forwards to continue their impressive scoring form, having already netted a joint competition high of nine goals.
Facing a Spurs team that has shown remarkable defensive strength in the Europa League this season could prove challenging. So far, the visitors have allowed just one goal during their initial three league games, each resulting in a win.
Travelling to Istanbul, the London team was buoyed by their recent Premier League triumph, where they overturned a deficit to defeat Aston Villa 4-1. With only one victory in their last three encounters with Turkish sides (D1, L1), Spurs are wary as they may enter this league phase match as underdogs for the first time, ensuring they approach it with utmost seriousness.
Players to keep an eye on include Victor Osimhen, who has scored four goals in his last four Turkish Süper Lig matches for Galatasaray and is eager to find the net in this competition for the first time since October 2021. Meanwhile, Spurs’ James Maddison, having reached his 50th Premier League goal recently, stands out as a crucial player for the visitors, contributing eight goals in his previous 13 UEL appearances (G3, A5).
Hot stat: No side received fewer yellow cards than Tottenham (one) in this season’s Europa League league phase ahead of this round.
