Liverpool heads to Rams Park on Tuesday night, aiming to avoid another loss in Istanbul. They lost 1-0 to Galatasaray at this same location in September, with Victor Osimhen’s penalty marking one of only two defeats for Arne Slot’s team in the league phase.
After a 3-1 victory over Wolves in the FA Cup last Friday, Liverpool is currently in sixth place in the Premier League with 48 points from 29 matches. They finished third in the Champions League group stage, earning 18 points from six wins and two losses, scoring 20 goals while conceding eight. The Reds have won their last three European games without conceding a goal and will be eager for revenge.
Galatasaray, on the other hand, is performing well domestically. The Turkish team is at the top of the Super Lig, four points ahead of Fenerbahce, and recently beat Besiktas 1-0 in the Istanbul Derby, extending their home winning streak to five matches. They finished the Champions League group phase with 10 points and narrowly advanced by defeating Juventus 7-5 on aggregate, winning 5-2 at home but losing 3-2 in Turin.
Galatasaray’s Home Advantage
The atmosphere at Rams Park will be lively, but Galatasaray fans are banned from the second leg at Anfield due to crowd issues in Turin. This puts pressure on Okan Buruk’s team to capitalize on their home advantage in the first leg. They have won three of their five Champions League matches at home this season, including that notable win against Liverpool. Victor Osimhen has been in top form, scoring seven Champions League goals in eight appearances.
Galatasaray has a strong home record against Liverpool, and while the Reds have gained some momentum recently, they may find it challenging to defeat the Turkish side away from home.
Prediction: Galatasaray 1-1 Liverpool