Galatasaray vs PAOK prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-09-24 19:00.
[p]Galatasaray will hope they can transfer their excellent domestic form into continental football, as they ride into the UEFA Europa League (UEL) on a high after a famous derby victory at Fenerbahçe. Okan Burukâs side maintained their 100% record in the SĂŒper Lig by registering a 3-1 victory – their sixth in a row in the league – with the manager saying the result shows his side can rise to the big occasion.[/p]
[p]The task is now to get up for continental football after the disappointment of their play-off elimination from the UEFA Champions League against Young Boys. Keeping 11 players on the pitch would be a start after receiving a red card in both legs of that tie, and they can ill-afford any more disadvantages given that theyâve won just one of their last eight European outings (D1, L6).[/p]
[p]That will provide some hope to opponents PAOK, who head into this match unbeaten in their three clashes against Turkish opposition (W2, D1). The Greek outfit should also be full of confidence, as they make the journey to Istanbul sitting top of the table domestically after an unbeaten five-game start to the season (W4, D1).[/p]
[p]The most recent of those results was a 4-1 victory against Volos on Saturday, with manager RÄzvan Lucescu praising his team for playing âbeautifullyâ. He will be hoping for more of the same in Europe, where PAOK have been beaten in the UCL by Malmö this season, but then booked their spot in the UEL group stages by hammering Shamrock Rovers 6-0 over two legs.[/p]
[p]Key battle: By netting in three games this season, Galatasarayâs Dries Mertens has now won a whopping 19 successive club matches in which he has scored. PAOKâs Dominik Kotarski – described by Lucescu as âthe best goalkeeper in Greeceâ – will be looking to stop him, and he has backed up his managerâs opinion by conceding just two goals in his last six appearances, keeping four clean sheets in the process (W5, D1).[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Six of PAOKâs last nine matches across all competitions have seen 3+ goals scored.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Matt Jones[/i][/p]