FC Copenhagen vs Galatasaray prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-12-11 20:00.
For Copenhagen, their matchday six permutations are simple – beat Galatasaray and a spot in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) knockouts is theirs. They could also advance with a draw providing Manchester United don’t beat group-topping Bayern Munich in Group A’s other game, but with an impressive 100% winning home record against Turkish opposition in UEFA competition (W4), Copenhagen will be going for the jugular.
Amongst those four wins is a 1-0 triumph against Galatasaray back in November 2013, but home wins on the continent have been a rare commodity these days for the Danish side, who have won just two of their last eight European games at Parken Stadium (D5, L1). Their home form has been similarly shaky domestically of late (D1, L2), meaning as the Danish Superliga pauses until February, Copenhagen are three points off the pace in the title race.
That’s perhaps something Galatasaray will be looking to exploit as they know they need to beat Copenhagen to progress in the knockouts. Winning away to Danish opposition certainly isn’t something they’re accustomed to, as they’ve never done so before (D1, L1), and their recent 19-game run away from home in the UCL proper (W1, D3, L15) provides little hope they can secure that first win here.
It’s not all doom and gloom, as Galatasaray have lost only two of their 11 UEFA matches this season (W6, D3), which includes a shock 3-2 victory away to Manchester United. Following that up may not be that simple, as you’d have to go back to 2012/13 for the last time Gala won two away games in the same UCL group – a historical omen they’ll have to overcome here if they’re to play springtime UCL football for the first time since 2013/14.
Players to watch: Since their 4-3 win over Manchester United in November, Elias Achouri is the only Copenhagen player to score a home goal, and all four of his goals overall for the Danish side have come on home turf. Gala’s Hakim Ziyech netted a brace of free-kicks on the last matchday, in what was his first goalscoring UCL outing since he netted at Copengahen’s Nordic neighbours Malmö in 2021.
Hot stat: Galatasaray have conceded twice in four of their last five UCL away games, including qualifiers.