In their opening group-stage fixture of the 2023-24 Champions League, Turkish giants Galatasaray will face Danish champions Copenhagen at RAMS Park on Wednesday night.
This match brings together two teams seen as outsiders in Group A, which also features European powerhouses Bayern Munich and Manchester United, who have a rich history in the competition.
Match Preview
Galatasaray makes a triumphant return to the Champions League after a three-year hiatus.
They secured their spot by successfully navigating past FK Zalgiris, NK Olimpija Ljubljana, and Molde in the qualifiers.
Their impressive start to the new campaign includes a 10-game unbeaten streak, with six consecutive victories and 15 goals scored.
Under the guidance of Okan Buruk, Galatasaray, the reigning Turkish Super Lig champions, is determined to make their mark in the Champions League.
However, progressing from a challenging group that includes Bayern Munich and Manchester United will be no easy task.
Galatasaray and Copenhagen previously faced each other in the 2013-14 season’s Champions League group stage.
Galatasaray emerged as winners on home soil with a 3-1 victory but suffered a 0-1 defeat in the away fixture against their Danish counterparts.
Copenhagen, like Galatasaray, had to fight through the Champions League qualifiers to reach this season’s group stage.
They had an excellent run last year, winning their 15th Danish top-flight title. Although they have made a strong start to the new campaign, Copenhagen’s recent form has dipped slightly, with only one win in their last four games.
The Danish giants will be eager to improve on their previous Champions League campaign, where they failed to win a single group match against Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund, and Sevilla.
Copenhagen faces a daunting task in Istanbul as they have struggled on their travels in the Champions League, with just one win in their last 12 away matches. In contrast, Galatasaray has lost only one of their last nine European home games.
Team News:
Galatasaray will be without summer signing Wilfried Zaha, who has been sidelined due to injury.
Halil Dervisoglu and Eyup Aydin are not registered for the Champions League squad.
However, Hakim Ziyech and Tanguy Ndombele, on loan from Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur respectively, made their debuts last weekend and could feature in the starting lineup.
For Copenhagen, striker Andreas Cornelius is set to miss the match due to injury. Defenders Nicolai Boilesen and Davit Khocholava are also doubtful and will undergo assessments before kickoff.
Possible Lineups:
Galatasaray:
Muslera;
Boey, Nelsson, Bardakci, Angelino;
Ndombele, Torreira;
Tete, Mertens, Akturkoglu;
Icardi
Copenhagen:
Grabara;
Jelert, Vavro, Diks, Meling;
Claesson, Falk, Goncalves;
Bardghji, Oskarsson, Elyounoussi
Prediction:
Galatasaray’s current form and home advantage make them the favorites in this match.
We predict a 2-0 victory for Galatasaray, as they look to secure a strong start in their quest for Champions League success.
