Lille and Galatasaray both seek their first league phase points in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) this season, something both sides will feel is a realistic prospect if they can manage to translate their strong domestic form onto the European stage.
Match News and Current Form
Lille have started their Ligue 1 campaign strongly but it’s been a different story in Europe, conceding three times in a pair of UCL league phase defeats against Real Betis (L 3-2) and Arsenal (L 3-0). Now on their worst-ever run of consecutive major European defeats (four), Lille have it all to do to turn this campaign around, and it appears little respite will come at home where they’ve lost their last three games in UEFA competition. Their Ligue 1 form at Stade Pierre-Mauroy sharply juxtaposes that, with Davide Ancelotti’s side unbeaten in four such matches this term (W2, D2) following a 1-1 draw with Brest at the weekend, form he’ll be desperate to see his side translate into this competition to get off the mark.
Galatasaray are also struggling to balance European and domestic commitments as their strong league form (W6, D1, L1) contrasts sharply with heavy UCL defeats to Sporting (3-1) and Barcelona (4-1). Scoring late to beat Gençlerbirliği 1-0 in the Turkish top flight on Saturday will have given the Lions a lift, especially as it came with a first clean sheet in four competitive games. With Okan Buruk’s side now at risk of their first pointless three-game start to a UCL campaign since 1997/98, their travelling record offers little assurance, as they’ve lost their last five UCL away fixtures and eight of their last nine (W1).
Head-to-Head History
This is the first meeting between these two clubs with Lille unbeaten across their last six European games against Turkish opponents (W2, D4). Galatasaray have won just one of their last 11 away fixtures against French sides (D2, L8), failing to score in each of the last four (D2, L2).
Hot Stats and Streaks
Lille received exactly one yellow card in five of their last six competitive games.
Lille’s last five home UCL matches saw both teams score.
Only two sides attempted fewer than Galatasaray’s 15 shots in the first two league phase rounds.
Galatasaray conceded exactly one first-half goal in each of their last three UCL away games.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Olivier Giroud netted Lille’s equaliser against Brest and has scored three of his last four UCL group/league phase goals between half-time and the 60th minute. Abdülkerim Bardakcı has netted twice across his last four appearances for Galatasaray and has opened the scoring in each of his last four club goalscoring appearances.
Tiago Santos is definitely out for Lille, while Ayase Ueda missed the Brest game. Rafael Leão suffered an injury for Galatasaray at the weekend and Wilfried Singo is still recovering from a thigh problem.
For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.
Betting Analysis
As both sides have struggled defensively in Europe this term and neither produced a convincing performance at the weekend, it might be worth backing the draw.
Author: John Pennington