Galatasaray vs AZ Alkmaar prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2025-02-19 17:45.
[p]No team conceded as many goals as Galatasaray in this season’s UEFA Europa League (UEL) knockout round play-off first legs, with their 4-1 defeat to AZ Alkmaar leaving them with a mountain to climb if they are to progress. Only once in 57 previous attempts has a side going into a second leg 3+ goals behind in this competition ultimately won the tie and that sole occasion came over a decade ago![/p]
[p]While getting goals might not be problematic, as Okan Buruk’s men have scored 3+ times in each of their last five UEL home games, none of those matches ended in a win by more than a two-goal margin (W4, D1). The odds are further stacked against Galatasaray given that the last time the Turkish outfit won a UEL fixture on their own patch by more than two goals was in October 2009.[/p]
[p]AZ certainly can’t take anything for granted as they have only once won both legs of a European knockout tie, so fans may be braced for a nervous evening in Istanbul. The Dutch side have not been in action since the first leg, so should be fresh as they aim to extend their four-match winning record in all competitions – with all of those victories by at least two goals.[/p]
[p]Doing so would see the Cheese Farmers continue their unbeaten record in European away games in Turkey (W1, D2), but history is not completely on their side as they have lost their last three UEL knockout fixtures on their travels. AZ’s UEL demise actually dates back further as they haven’t won a match on the road in this competition since October 2020 (D1, L6), but it is worth noting that none of those defeats were by more than a two-goal margin.[/p]
[p]Key battle: Suspended for the first leg, Victor Osimhen completed the scoring for Galatasaray in his last four UEL appearances, including against AZ in the league phase. He will be trying to cause problems for defenders such as David Møller Wolfe, who has scored after the 40th minute in both of AZ’s last two matches – including in the first leg – but was also booked in those encounters. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: AZ’s UEL games this term have produced an average of 3.44 goals per match – lower only than Galatasaray’s 4.44.[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]