Galatasaray Vs. AZ Alkmaar Predictions: Hunt For Three Goals And Can't Concede

Victor Osimhen, appearing fertile with Galatasaray (photo: x @victorosimhen9)

JAKARTA - Galatasaray had to work hard to reverse its three-goal deficit at home to AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League playoffs on Thursday 20 February. The 1-4 defeat in the first leg last week, leaving the club nicknamed my club now have to attack the frontal at home.

The match will take place in Istanbul, where Gala must oppose history to get rid of AZ and advance to the round of 16, facing the winner between Manchester United or Tottenham Hotspur.

In the first leg at Alkmaar, Galatasaray equalized with Roland Sallai's goal of replying to wavy Mijnans' spectacular free kick. However, Kaan Ayhan's red card in the second half became a turning point, where AZ Alkmaar managed to score two additional goals, including a penalty from Troy Parrott, and ended the match with a 4-1 win.

However, Galatasaray coach, Okan Bad, still has hope for an extraordinary revival, especially since Galatasaray has an impressive record in European home games.

In the last six of the last seven home games in European competition, they managed to score three goals or more. In fact, in the last five games of the Europa League, they always scored at least three goals.

However, the defense issue could be an obstacle for Galatasaray. This team has conceded at least one goal in their last 21 continental matches. If you concede again in this match, the chances of qualifying for the round of 16 will be thinner.

History also does not side with Galatasaray. Of the previous 57 cases where the team lost by a difference of three goals or more in the first leg of the Europa League knockout, only one team managed to qualify: Valencia got rid of Basel in 2014 after a 5-0 win in the second leg.

Galatasaray came to this match after winning over Caykur Rizespor on Monday 17 February, following a controversial incident when their match against Adana Demirspor was stopped due to a walk-out action by the opposing team. Their star, Victor Osimhen, scored two goals in victory over Rizespor and is ready to return after being absent in the first leg due to UEFA sanctions.

On the other hand, AZ Alkmaar is in a comfortable position after a big win in the first leg. They also have the advantage of longer rest time, because they don't compete in Eredivisie on weekends.

In defensive terms, AZ is solid in the domestic league, only losing to Ajax in number conceded. However, in European competition, they were 0-3 behind against Ferencvaros before finally winning 4-3. With a total of 20 goals, Galatasaray is the team with the most goals in the Europa League this season, while AZ is in third place with only three goals adrift.

With four consecutive wins, including a win in the quarter-finals of KNVB Beker and two wins at Eredivisie over Willem II and PEC Zwolle, AZ will arrive in Istanbul confidently to get rid of one of the competition's favorites.

Galatasaray will be strengthened again by Davinson Sanchez, Lucas Torreira, and Victor Osimhen who have completed the ban on playing. However, they had to play without Alvaro Morata (hamstring injury) and Mauro Icardi (ACL injury). Yunus Akgun and Ismail Jakobs are also still absent due to a muscle injury, while Kaan Ayhan was suspended after a red card in the first leg.

New full-back Przemyslaw Frankowski and midfielder Mario Lemina have featured in the win over Rizespor, but both are not on Galatasaray's list of the latest Europa League squad.

Meanwhile, AZ Alkmaar still lost Ruben van Bommel, Sem Westerveld, and Ibrahim Sadiq due to injury, but Kristijan Belic returned after being suspended. Belic will compete with Kees Smit and Jordy Clasie for midfielder position with peer Koopmeiners.

Di lini depan, menyeh Mijnans akan mendukung Troy Parrott, yang telah mencetak 17 gol di semua kompetisi musim ini, termasuk tiga gol dalam tiga pertandingan terakhir di Liga Europa.

Galatasaray (4-2-3-1): Muslera; Jelert, Sanchez, Bardakci, Kutlu; Torreira, Sara; Sallai, Mertens, Yilmaz; Osimhen.

AZ Alkmaar (4-2-3-1):Owu-Oduro; Kasius, Goes, Penetra, Wolfe; Clasie, Koopmeiners; Poku, Mijnans, Lahdo; Parrott.