AZ Alkmaar vs Galatasaray prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2025-02-12 20:00.
[p]AZ Alkmaar snuck into the UEFA Europa League (UEL) knockout phase play-offs after losing their final league-phase match 4-3 to Ferencváros, making this their first knockout appearance in this competition since 2019/20. They’ve been on a roll since that defeat though, winning all three of their domestic games by a two-goal margin, so momentum is with them as they prepare to host Galatasaray.[/p]
[p]The two sides will be familiar with one another after facing off in a 1-1 league-phase draw in November, while AZ had beaten Galatasaray’s fierce rivals Fenerbahçe 3-1 at the AFAS Stadion earlier that month. And as the Cheese Farmers are yet to lose to a Turkish club at home in Europe (W3, D2), Maarten Martens’ men have reasons to be confident as they look to maintain a run of 16 consecutive UEL matches without defeat on their own patch (W8, D8, including qualifiers).[/p]
[p]Only Manchester United (none) lost fewer games than Galatasaray (W3, D4, L1) during the UEL league phase, but they’ll be taking nothing for granted, as that defeat came in matchday eight against Dutch side Ajax (2-1). And after scoring more goals (19) than any other team during the competition’s league phase, they netted five times in the following two completed games (W2) before Sunday’s clash at home to Adana Demirspor was abandoned with the hosts 1-0 up.[/p]
[p]That was hardly ideal preparation for head coach Okan Buruk as he tries to guide his side to a rare away win in continental competition, with Galatasaray having won none of their last seven such UEL matches (D5, L2). Success in the Netherlands would also be a significant landmark, as ahead of this encounter, they have never tasted victory in a European game on their travels against a Dutch outfit (D1, L5, including qualifiers).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Sven Mijnans has scored three times in AZ’s last four matches, with two of those strikes arriving after the 75th minute, while Victor Osimhen could also be a threat late on as he has completed the scoring for Galatasaray in his last four UEL appearances, including against AZ in the league phase.[/p]
[p]Hot streak: Galatasaray’s last 11 UEL games have seen both teams on the day find the net (W4, D4, L3).[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]