Liverpool travel to Rams Park on Tuesday night, desperate to avoid another defeat in Istanbul. The Reds were beaten 1-0 by Galatasaray at this very venue back in September, with Victor Osimhen’s penalty inflicting one of only two defeats Arne Slot’s side suffered during the league phase.
Following their 3-1 FA Cup win over Wolves on Friday, Liverpool sit sixth in the Premier League table with 48 points from 29 games. They finished third in the Champions League league phase with 18 points from six wins and two losses, scoring 20 goals and conceding just eight. The Reds have won their last three European matches without conceding and will fancy their chances of getting revenge.
Galatasaray, meanwhile, are flying domestically. The Turkish giants sit top of the Super Lig with a four-point advantage over Fenerbahce and beat Besiktas 1-0 in the Istanbul Derby on Sunday to extend their winning streak to five matches at home. They finished 20th in the league phase with 10 points but scraped through by beating Juventus 7-5 on aggregate in the playoffs, winning 5-2 at home before losing 3-2 in Turin.
Galatasaray’s Home Fortress
The atmosphere at Rams Park will be electric, but Galatasaray fans have been banned from attending the second leg at Anfield due to crowd disturbances in Turin. That means Okan Buruk’s side must make home advantage count in the first leg. They’ve won three of their five Champions League home matches this season, including that memorable victory over Liverpool. Victor Osimhen has been lethal with seven Champions League goals in eight appearances.
Galatasaray have an impressive home record against Liverpool. And the Reds, although having found a bit of momentum of late, might struggle to beat the Turkish giants away from home.
Prediction: Galatasaray 1-1 Liverpool
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