Manchester United travel to Turkey to take on Galatasaray in a must-win clash as defeat would seal elimination from this season’s UEFA Champions League for Erik ten Hag’s outfit. Read on for Last Word on Football’s predictions for Galatasaray vs Manchester United and the best odds for the match at RAMS Park.
Galatasaray vs Manchester United Predictions and Best Odds in a Season-Defining Clash for the Red Devils
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Galatasaray Looking To Put One Foot in the Knockout Stages
Despite losing back-to-back fixtures against Bayern Munich, the Turkish side knows that a victory here will all but seal their place in the last 16 of the Champions League. If they can secure the three points here, they will just need to avoid defeat away to Copenhagen on the final matchday to finish as runners-up in the group.
However, despite winning 4-0 against Alanyaspor at the weekend, they suffered their first defeat of the league campaign away to Hatayspor before the international break. This coupled with the defeats to Bayern means it is three defeats from six in all competitions having been unbeaten on all fronts after winning the reverse fixture against Manchester United.
This fixture is an opportunity to quell any doubters as they are second in the Turkish Super Lig only on goal difference and progression in this competition will be seen as significant progress having been labelled as the underdog when drawn against the German champions and the English giants.
Manchester United Looking to Shake Off Inconsistency
The 3-0 success over Everton at the weekend was a welcome surprise for fans as the Toffees had been tipped by many to give United a tough encounter. It is now three Premier League wins on the spin with five goals scored and none conceded. There is some optimism in Old Trafford that they may be able to compete for a place in the top four at least but there has yet to be a victory in a game against an opponent in the top half of the league and this inconsistency has spread to the Champions League thus far.
Defeats to Bayern Munich, Copenhagen and Galatasaray have left them on the brink of exiting the competition and that would be a major blow for everyone involved. They must pick up three points here to have any shout of qualification as their final group game is against the group leaders. A win here would still mean that the Red Devils would likely need a result in the final fixture, as they would be just one point ahead of Galatasaray who have a seemingly more winnable game.
The fans have been waiting all season for a statement result that could take the club back into the mix of competing for major honours but following the impressive weekend result and performance, now would be as good a time as ever to avoid a humiliating early European exit.
Recent Head-to-Head
The Old Trafford encounter was an interesting spectacle as the away side left with a 3-2 success after an error from goalkeeper Andre Onana led to the sending off of Casemiro after 77 minutes. Manchester United twice led this fixture through a brace from Rasmus Hojlund but former player Wilfried Zaha and Kerem Akturkoglu levelled on each occasion.
Mauro Icardi missed the resulting penalty after Casemiro had seen red, but the home side could not hold on with ten men and succumbed to a winner from Icardi in the final ten minutes.
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Both previous meetings in the 2012/13 Champions League campaign finished in 1-0 wins for the home side on the day.
Galatasaray vs Manchester United Prediction
Having tipped an Everton win at the weekend, it is difficult to predict which Manchester United will turn up in any given match this season. Some of the performances in Europe have merited more than just one win and three defeats but this is a high-pressure occasion and this is when the team have underperformed.
Galatasaray are beatable and have let their impressive form dip in recent weeks, so an in-form Manchester United will be confident of a result. However, the Turkish side has some real prowess in attack and it will be difficult to keep their attacking players out with the defensive issues on display at Old Trafford.
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It appears a draw is the most likely outcome, which sets the group up for a grandstand finish on matchday six.
Current Odds: Galatasaray vs Manchester United
A home win is priced at 8/5 while an away win can be found at 6/4., the draw is 27/10.
