Galatasaray (Tur) vs O. Ljubljana (Slo) prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Qualification betting tips on match 2023-08-14 18:00.
After a dream first leg saw them run out 3-0 winners away from home, Galatasaray return to Istanbul with one foot already in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) play-offs, barring a miraculous comeback from Slovenian opponents Olimpija Ljubljana. Gala are therefore a disciplined 90 minutes away from booking their UCL play-off spot against either Klaksvik or Molde, where their hopes of ending their UCL group stage hiatus stretching back to 2019/20 will be on the line.
Known as the ‘Conqueror of Europe’ by their own fans, Galatasaray can also rely on a rammed Rams Park to aid their progression, an atmosphere that’s helped them win five of their last six home matches (D1) – with all those victories accompanied with a clean sheet. Many teams have crumbled under the pressurising environment of facing the Turkish Süper Lig champions, as only Barcelona have managed to leave Rams Park with a victory in Gala’s last seven home European matches (W4, D2).
Olimpija won’t simply accept defeat in the tie having made it this far, with this being their first ever appearance in the UCL third qualifying round. Despite that thumping first leg defeat, they immediately returned to winning ways at the weekend by overcoming Domzale 2-1 to prove their mettle, but victory will need to be far more emphatic here if they’re to have any chance of advancing.
The Dragons will know the odds are stacked against them, especially considering they’ve won only once in their last eight away games (D2, L5). Should their UCL qualification dreams end here, the European road carries on via entering the Europa League play-offs, where they'll face either Qarabag or HJK Helsinki.
Players to watch: Galatasaray’s Dries Mertens has been his side’s chief destroyer of late, netting in their last two European outings and racking up an eight-game winning streak when scoring. He’ll come up against a fellow #10 in Timi Max Elšnik, who could be Olimpija’s best route back into the tie since 13 of his last 19 goals have come away from home.
Hot streak: Galatasaray have seen the same result at half-time replicated come full-time in each of their last nine contested matches.