Galatasaray vs Manchester United

Rams Park is the venue as Galatasaray and Manchester United go head-to-head in a ‘make or break’ Champions League Group A showdown.

Despite back-to-back defeats ‘to one’ at the hands of Bayern Munich, Galatasaray’s bid to reach the Champions League knockouts for the first time since 2013/14 is still alive and kicking, with the reigning Super Lig holders coming into the penultimate round sitting third in Group A. Level on points with runners-up Copenhagen, Okan Buruk’s men need a result against a Manchester United side they shockingly defeated 3-2 in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford. That result represents Galatasaray’s one win in their last 15 matches in the Champions League group stages (D4, L10), suggesting they cannot take anything for granted. But they can draw confidence from their superb form at Rams Park this season. Except for a 3-1 loss to Bayern Munich, they’ve gone unbeaten in all ten remaining home outings in 2023/24 (W9, D1)!

On the other hand, Manchester United put in a stellar performance to beat Everton 3-0 at the weekend, making it three Premier League wins on the trot while setting themselves up nicely for this must-win trip. Erik ten Hag’s men have unfathomably lost three of their four Champions League games this season (W1) and can consider themselves lucky for commencing this round only one point off Copenhagen. But with an ominously-looking clash against Bayern Munich awaiting them on the final matchday, the ‘Red Devils’ must take three points here by ending a dismal three-game losing run on Turkish soil. However, they’ve traveled poorly in the Champions League, claiming just one win in their last eight away matches at Europe’s top table (D2, L5), casting further doubt on their bid to avenge the abovementioned H2H upset.