Tottenham Hotspur look to extend their perfect Europa League start as they travel to Turkey for a Thursday night clash with Galatasaray.
With three wins from three games, Spurs are joint top of the league table and only trail Lazio across the tournament standings. Fresh off a commanding 4-1 comeback against Aston Villa, they’ll be looking to build on their recent momentum.
However, the Istanbul atmosphere and the Turkish champions’ attacking approach will present a new level of challenge for the visitors, who will also be without several key players due to recent injuries.
Tottenham enter this clash with a flawless record in the Europa League, having secured victories over Qarabag FK, Ferencvaros, and AZ Alkmaar. Their domestic form has been strong too, capped off by a comprehensive 4-1 win over Aston Villa, although earlier setbacks include a tight 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace and a dismal 3-2 defeat to Brighton.
Galatasaray, meanwhile, have won two and drawn one of their Europa League matches. They are unbeaten in their last 11 games overall. At home, they are even tougher to break down, going unbeaten in their last seven matches, aided by one of Europe’s most hostile stadium atmospheres.
Spurs are contending with multiple injuries, especially in defence. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are both struggling with recent injuries, leaving Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies likely to step up at the back. Richarlison, who assisted Solanke’s second goal also left the Aston Villa game early with a hamstring issue, limiting Postecoglou’s options up front.
Wilson Odobert remains a longer-term absentee. In the absence of Richarlison, the focus will be on Timo Werner, who showcased his regained confidence with a composed finish against City in the EFL Cup.
Galatasaray’s main concern has been the recent absence of Victor Osimhen from training, although it appears to be precautionary, and he is expected to play. Osimhen’s involvement could be decisive given his goal contributions this season, both in domestic competition and Europe.
The only confirmed absentee for Galatasaray is Ismail Jakobs, who remains sidelined with a knee injury.
Forster; Gray, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bissouma, Maddison; Moore, Son, Werner.
Expect a tactical clash, with both teams favouring possession and aiming to exploit gaps through swift transitions. Galatasaray’s attacking movement, particularly their use of long balls over the defence, will challenge Spurs’ backline in the absence of Romero and van de Ven.
Tottenham, on the other hand, will look to Maddison’s creativity in midfield; his impressive 62.5% dribble success rate in the Europa League highlights his playmaking ability. The wide play of Werner and Moore will also be key in stretching Galatasaray’s compact mid-block setup.
In a challenging away atmosphere, Spurs will need calmness under pressure and precise passing to navigate Galatasaray’s pressing and the influence of their intimidating home crowd.
Score prediction: Tottenham 2-0 Galatasaray
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