Galatasaray vs Juventus preview, prediction, team news and head-to-head

• Over 2.5 goals

• Both teams to score

• Osimhen to score any time

After winning three of their opening four group-stage fixtures, Galatasaray looked poised for automatic qualification to the knockout stages. However, a disappointing run of one point from their final four matches saw them finish 20th in the standings.

Since then, Gala have posted four straight wins across all competitions, racking up 15 goals in the process while conceding only two. Captain Mauro Icardi has scored five, including a hat-trick in Friday’s 5-1 thumping of Eyupspor.

Three points clear at the Super Lig summit, Okan Buruk’s side are on track to defend their domestic crown. 

Attention now turns back to the continent, where they will also hope to break new ground in Europe’s top competition. Galatasaray were eliminated in the Champions League playoffs last season, losing 4-2 on aggregate to Young Boys and failing to reach the competition proper. They also went on to lose to AZ Alkmaar at this stage of last season’s Europa League.

Unlike Galatasaray, Juventus made a rough start to the Champions League campaign, failing to win any of their opening three matches before picking up 10 points from the final 12 available to finish 13th. Current coach Luciano Spalletti has won 10 and lost just two of his last 16 games at Europe’s top level, across spells with Inter Milan, Napoli, and now Juve.

However, they suffered a crushing defeat against Inter Milan in Saturday’s Derby d’Italia, where Piotr Zielinski netted in the 90th minute to settle a five-goal thriller.

Now 15 points adrift of top spot in Serie A, the Bianconeri are all but out of the title race, having exited the Coppa Italia too. The Champions League represents their last shot at silverware this term.

Tuesday’s game marks a seventh Champions League meeting with Juventus, following six previous encounters in the group stage: Gala won the most recent clash 1-0, in December 2013. 

At RAMS Park, Galatasaray hold the advantage – two wins in three games. Juventus has never won on Galatasaray's ground, with one draw recorded. In fact, Juve have failed to win any of their three away games against Galatasaray.

Metehan Baltaci and Mario Lemina are suspended for Galatasaray here, but the latter will be eligible to take part in next week’s return leg.

Victor Osimhen has scored 15 goals across all competitions for the hosts this season, including six in the Champions League, making the Nigerian one to watch. Having praised his chemistry with Mauro Icardi, it remains to be seen whether Okan Buruk risks starting the prolific front pair or takes a more cautious approach for this first leg.

Dusan Vlahovic has not featured for Juventus since November as he remains sidelined with a groin problem, while Khephren Thuram (knock) is also ruled out. In the ongoing absence of Vlahovic, Jonathan David should beat Lois Openda to selection as the Bianconeri’s lone striker, supported by main man Kenan Yildiz.

Galatasaray: Cakir; Sallai, Bardakci, Sanchez, Jakobs; Torreira, Sara; Sane, Gundogan, Yilmaz; Osimhen

Juventus: Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Koopmeiners; Conceicao, McKennie, Yildiz; David

Galatasaray have hit a purple patch, seemingly scoring at will while ruthlessly punishing their domestic opponents. They have now won nine and lost none of their Super Lig home fixtures. 

While Juventus represent a step up in class, the visitors have serious defensive issues and remain much more vulnerable on the road, which may see them buckle and succumb to intense pressure in front of a highly partisan crowd.

Correct score prediction: Galatasaray 2-1 Juventus