Molde-Galatasaray is a match valid for the first leg of the Champions League qualifying playoffs and is played Wednesday at 9 p.m.: predictions.
Mission almost accomplished for Okan Buruk’s Galatasaray. After triumphing in the Turkish Super Lig four years after the last time, the Istanbul giants are in the midst of a race to grab one of the six remaining Champions League group stage spots, which the current Turkish champions have not played since the 2019-20 season.
Galatasaray’s journey began in late July, and to make it to the play-offs they had to go through two rounds. In the first, probably due to the fact that the team was still in the run-in phase, the Lithuanians of Zalgiris created some problems for Icardi and his teammates: the first leg ended in a draw, while in the return a goal by former Neapolitan Mertens was enough to allow the “Gala” to advance to the next round. On the other hand, no risks against the Slovenians of Olimpia Ljubljana: qualification was already filed in the first of the two challenges, which ended 0-3 for the Turkish formation. Galatasaray managed to keep their goal unbeaten in the return match as well. A goal by Icardi was enough to extinguish any hopes of a comeback by Olimpia, defeated 1-0 at Rams Park Stadyumu. The former Inter Milan and Psg striker also took center stage in the league’s big match with Trabzonspor, scoring a brace (2-0) to give Okan Buruk their first Super Lig success after a deadlocked draw in the opener against Kayserispor.
Galatasaray’s iron defense
After the two goals conceded in the first official match with Zalgiris, Galatasaray thus literally armored its goal, which has been inviolate for five games.
Haugan del Molde
In the playoff they will face the Norwegians of Molde, who just broke the dream of Klaksvik, the small Faroese club that had even gone as far as the third qualifying round. Defeated in the first leg (2-1), Erling Moe’s men in Norway needed extra time to reach the playoff goal and avert an elimination that would have been resounding. The Eliteserien, unlike most European leagues, is in full swing: having filed away the rocky start, Molde got back on track (they are now fourth) but still a long way from leading Bodo/Glimt.
The prediction
Galatasaray has appeared very solid in recent matches between the league and Champions League and, despite the sale of Zaniolo, continues to have a quality squad, certainly superior to Molde’s. Nevertheless, it will not be a cakewalk to mortgage qualification already in Norway as it happened in the previous round: the match will likely be decided by individuals. Icardi and Mertes, in fact, appear inspired.
The probable lineups of Molde-Galatasaray
- MOLDE (3-5-2): Karlstrom; Bjornbak, Ellingsen, Haugan; Linnes, Mannsverk, Breivik, Eriksen, Haugen; Eikrem, Brynhildsen.
- GALATASARAY (4-2-3-1): Muslera; Boey, Nelsson, Ayhan, Angelino; Kutlu, Oliveira; Yilmaz, Mertens, Akturkoglu; Icardi.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 0-1
