Although their hosts are only one point ahead, both teams are in a precarious position as they head into the penultimate gameweek.
Galatasaray showed resilience in their recent match against Bayern Munich, holding them off for 80 minutes until Harry Kane's goals tilted the balance. Despite a late strike from Cedric Bakambu, Galatasaray missed a chance to solidify their position in the top two of Group A, where three teams are vying for the second spot while Bayern Munich watches on.
With the same points as Copenhagen but an inferior goal difference, Okan Buruk's team faces uncertainty about their fate this week. A loss, coupled with a surprising Copenhagen win over Bayern, could leave them in a perilous position ahead of a potential winner-takes-all clash with Copenhagen on December 12.
After suffering their first Turkish Super Lig loss of the season to Hatayspor, Galatasaray bounced back with a 4-0 victory over Alanyaspor, featuring a goal from former Red Devils youth product Wilfried Zaha. Meanwhile, Manchester United's young talent, Alejandro Garnacho, made headlines with an acrobatic goal against Everton, contributing to a 3-0 win alongside Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.
Erik ten Hag's side is hoping for a turning point in their season, especially since their last significant win was in September's EFL Cup against Crystal Palace. A draw or victory against Galatasaray will keep their Champions League hopes alive, but a fourth defeat in five games would eliminate them, especially if Copenhagen beats Bayern.
Adding to the stakes, Manchester United seeks redemption for their 3-2 loss to Galatasaray at Old Trafford last month. The visitors are also looking to break a scoring drought, having failed to score in three away games against the Turkish side—marking their longest such run against a single European opponent.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Galatasaray's impressive 4-0 victory over Alanyaspor had a downside for Buruk, who had to deal with the loss of former Tottenham Hotspur defender Davinson Sanchez due to a grade two hamstring injury in the second half. Unfortunately for the Turkish side, Sanchez's injury ruled him out of the upcoming match against Manchester United.Buruk's defensive challenges had already increased over the weekend when Abdulkerim Bardakci suffered an injury in training on Friday, preventing his participation against Alanyaspor. However, there are reports suggesting that Bardakci is making progress in his recovery and might be fit for Wednesday's game. If Bardakci needs more time, Victor Nelsson is set to step in, having started alongside Sanchez against Bayern.
Dries Mertens, who scored twice against Alanyaspor, could potentially limit Kerem Akturkoglu to a role off the bench in the upcoming match.
While Galatasaray is dealing with the absence of one player, Manchester United faces a broader injury crisis. Lisandro Martinez (foot), Casemiro (thigh), Amad Diallo (knee), Mason Mount (calf), Jonny Evans (thigh), Christian Eriksen (knee), and Tyrell Malacia (knee) will all miss the trip to Istanbul.
However, there is some positive news for Manchester United, as Antony (knock) and Rasmus Hojlund (thigh), who were inactive over the weekend, were spotted in training on Tuesday and are expected to be available for Wednesday's game.
Rasmus Hojlund, yet to score in the English top-flight, has found the net five times in Europe this season, tying for the most goals in the 2023-24 Champions League with Atletico Madrid's Alvaro Morata. His return would be timely, especially since Marcus Rashford is suspended after being sent off against Copenhagen.
POSSIBLE LINE UPS
Galatasaray possible starting lineup:Muslera; Boey, Bardakci, Ayhan, Angelino; Torreira, Demirbay; Ziyech, Mertens, Zaha; Icardi
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw; McTominay, Amrabat; Antony, Fernandes, Garnacho; Hojlund
EXPERT PREDICTION
Galatasaray 1-1 Manchester United
The recent victory over Everton raises questions about whether it marks a turning point for Manchester United. However, considering Rashford's suspension and other squad limitations, it's tough to confidently support Manchester United. Anticipating another high-scoring European match, we lean towards a draw, which would keep Ten Hag's team in contention for a top-two spot.
