Tottenham Hotspur is on a roll in the Europa League, with three wins from three games under their belt. Now, they're heading to Istanbul to face Galatasaray at Rams Park, looking to make it four victories in a row.
Spurs are currently second in the 36-team table, but Galatasaray is hot on their heels, just three places and two points behind in fifth spot.
Tottenham's Europa League campaign has been impressive so far, with wins over Qarabag, Ferencvaros, and AZ Alkmaar. They're one of only three teams, along with Lazio and Anderlecht, to have picked up maximum points from their opening three fixtures.
Ange Postecoglou's side is also climbing the Premier League ranks, now seventh after a thrilling 4-1 comeback win over Aston Villa last weekend. They've won six consecutive home games, scoring 17 goals and conceding just four.
However, Spurs have a challenge ahead - they need to break their two-game losing streak away from home. Their last trip to Istanbul didn't go well either, losing 1-0 to Besiktas in 2014.
Galatasaray, on the other hand, has been entertaining fans with high-scoring games. They've collected seven points from three Europa League matches, including a thrilling 4-3 win over Elfsborg.
Coach Okan Buruk's side is on an 11-game unbeaten streak across all competitions, including a 2-1 win over Istanbul rivals Besiktas. They're eight points clear at the top of the Turkish Super Lig table.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Galatasaray's squad is looking relatively healthy ahead of their Europa League clash with Tottenham, with only left-back Ismail Jakobs sidelined due to a knee injury. Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera is back from his European ban and will likely start in goal.
The Turkish side has a solid lineup shaping up, with former Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez partnering Abdulkerim Bardakci in defense, and ex-Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira teaming up with Gabriel Sara in center midfield. Star striker Victor Osimhen, on loan from Napoli, has been on fire with four goals in his last three games and will likely lead the charge up front, possibly alongside top scorer Mauro Icardi.
On the other hand, Tottenham's injury list is growing. Richarlison joins Micky van de Ven, Wilson Odobert, Timo Werner, and Mikey Moore on the sidelines, after picking up a hamstring injury in the win over Aston Villa last weekend. Cristian Romero is also a major doubt for the trip to Turkey due to a foot injury, and Djed Spence's groin problem will be assessed before kickoff.
If Romero doesn't make it, Ben Davies will likely step in alongside Radu Dragusin in central defense. Manager Ange Postecoglou may also give James Maddison, Yves Bissouma, and Lucas Bergvall a chance to return to the starting lineup. And with Timo Werner and Mikey Moore out, Son Heung-min may be called upon to lead the attack.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Galatasaray possible starting lineup:
Muslera; Ayhan, Sanchez, Bardakci, Kohn; Torreira, Sara; Yilmaz, Mertens, Akgun; Osimhen
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Vicario; Gray, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie; Bergvall, Bissouma, Maddison; Johnson, Solanke, Son
EXPERT PREDICTIONS
Galatasaray 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Thursday's matchup between Galatasaray and Tottenham is shaping up to be a thrilling contest, with both teams riding high on confidence. However, the Turkish side has a distinct advantage - the electric atmosphere of their home crowd.
Playing in front of a packed and passionate crowd at Rams Park, Galatasaray will be fueled by the energy of their fans, making life difficult for Spurs. And with Tottenham potentially missing their top center-back pairing and considering lineup changes, Galatasaray sees a prime opportunity to capitalize.
Given these factors, it's likely that Galatasaray will at least earn a draw, halting Tottenham's perfect Europa League run. The hostile environment and potential weaknesses in the Spurs lineup could prove too much for the visitors to overcome
