After their five-goal thriller last week, Galatasaray and Molde will lock horns once again in the return leg of their Champions League playoff. The team of Okan Buruk returned from Scandinavia with a 3-2 victory. They now welcome Molde to Istanbul with the intention of completing the task they began at Aker Stadion.
Preview (Galatasaray vs. Molde)
Although it appeared that Molde would lose, Erling Moe’s team delivered Galatasaray a hard wake-up call just eight minutes into last week’s first leg due to a Martin Ellingsen header. Molde’s run to the last stage of Champions League qualification was no accident. Kristoffer Haugen’s goal appeared to force a share of the spoils in Norway. Galatasaray quickly turned the tide in their favor through Sergio Oliveira and Mauro Icardi. Deep into second-half injury time, Icardi switched roles with Fredrik Midtsjo to score the game’s fifth.
Galatasaray had five straight clean sheets prior to their trip to Scandinavia. Their past rearguard toughness almost didn’t matter in Norway. A one-goal lead is hardly cozy for the Turkish champions, who can’t afford to let up at home. But Galatasaray’s victory in the first leg gave Buruk’s team three straight victories. They have won all three of their home games thus far this season without conceding a goal. They are unbeaten in seven competitive games since the current season started. This will be the first time since the 2019–20 campaign that the Champions League has returned to the group stage. Erling Moe’s team has experience turning around first-leg deficits in Champions League qualifying.
Molde did indeed suffer opening losses to HJK and Faroe Islands trailblazers KI Klaksvik since entering the preliminary rounds at the second stage, but on both occasions, they overturned those losses to extend their top-tier European journey, even though they needed more time to defeat KI. Few will have faith in the Norwegian giants to pull off another notable continental comeback at Rams Park. Especially since their record across all competitions currently reads just one win from their last five games. Additionally, Molde’s previous Champions League turnarounds both occurred at home after they had lost on the road.
Team News
Galatasaray made it through the first leg without the defensive grit of suspended Lucas Torreira. The former Arsenal player is now available and might be given a quick recall over Berkan Kutlu. No new injuries were reported after the 3-2 victory for Buruk’s team. Wilfried Zaha’s foot condition persisted and prevented the Ivorian winger from playing. Emin Bayram was just a substitute after experiencing his own scare. Yunus Akgun was selected for the wide position last week since Zaha was out. Now the 23-year-old is headed to Leicester City on loan, Hakim Ziyech might make his debut for Galatasaray.
The Molde medical staff is taking care of right-back Martin Linnes and striker Veton Berisha as they heal from unidentified ailments, but Moe’s team also emerged physically unscathed from last week’s first match. Given their heroic efforts at Aker Stadion, Moe shouldn’t stray from his tried-and-true 3-5-2 formation, especially with his team requiring at least two goals to advance. Eirik Haugan is still in charge of the backline despite serving a domestic suspension. So far this summer, Molde has not allowed a first-leg deficit to crush their Champions League hopes, but relegating Galatasaray to Europa League play in Istanbul is undoubtedly an impossible goal for Moe’s team.
With the physical Torreira back in the lineup and Ziyech possibly given the chance to make an early impression at Rams Park, the hosts should play more defensively like they normally do while showcasing their incredible offensive talent to advance to the group stage.
Galatasary 2 – 0 Molde
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