Galatasaray vs Dyn. Kyiv prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-01-20 15:30.
[p]Kicking off before all of the other top-eight contenders, Galatasaray have a chance to lay down a marker of their UEFA Europa League (UEL) intent when they host basement boys Dynamo Kyiv. Okan Buruk’s men have their fate in their hands with two matchdays remaining after making an unbeaten start to the league phase (W3, D3), albeit they’ve been held to back-to-back draws in this competition.[/p]
[p]Gala were also held to a stalemate in domestic action at the weekend, with that result extending their staggering unbeaten run to 24 matches across all competitions (W17, D7). Just one defeat from their previous 11 UEL home matches (W8, D2) suggests that streak will continue here, with Galatasaray chasing a first-ever victory over Ukrainian opposition (D2, L1).[/p]
[p]The Turkish giants are unlikely to ever get a better chance than against this Dynamo Kyiv side, who’ve endured a thoroughly miserable UEL campaign. Losing all six matches in the league phase while scoring just once, the Blue and Whites are the only side in the competition already eliminated after six matchdays, leaving nothing more than pride on the line here.[/p]
[p]As if their challenge wasn’t tough enough, Dynamo haven’t played a competitive match since mid-December. Shaking off rust will therefore be imperative ahead of a first-ever meeting with Galatasaray, but the Ukrainians have worryingly lost their last four meetings with Turkish opposition – more than they suffered in their first 22 such matches (W16, D3, L3)![/p]
[p]Players to watch: Galatasaray’s Dries Mertens stands on the verge of UEL history, as he could become the first player to make 70 appearances in the competition. The Belgian has assisted in three successive UEL games, while Dynamo’s Vladyslav Vanat netted three times in his final three matches before Christmas – he’s also been on the scoresheet three times in his last two friendly appearances.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: All six of Galatasaray’s six UEL games this season saw both sides on the scoresheet.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Ryan Fisher[/i][/p]