Europa League | League Stage

Jan 21, 2025 at 3.30pm UK

Adams Park

Galatasaray vs Dynamo Kiev

Match preview

One of the favourites to lift this season's Europa League trophy, Galatasaray have not had the smoothest run in the competition in recent times.

The Cimbom have failed to win either of their last two games on the continental stage, drawing 1-1 away to AZ Alkmaar before being held to a 2-2 draw by Malmo at the Eleda Stadium.

However, that has done little to shake their status as strong contenders, as they sit sixth in the standings with 12 points from three wins and three draws, making them one of just five teams yet to suffer defeat in the competition.

Indeed, the 2024-25 campaign has been nothing short of remarkable for Gala, who are unbeaten in 24 matches in all competitions.

Their most recent outing saw them hold Hatayspor to a 1-1 draw, leaving them six points clear at the top of the Turkish Super Lig.

Returning to their fortress for the seventh Europa League game of the season, where they have won all three of their matches in the competition, a win over the struggling visitors would not be out of reach as Okan Buruk's side look to strengthen their bid for automatic qualification to the next round.

Bottom of the standings and already mathematically eliminated from the competition after a 3-0 defeat to Real Sociedad, Dynamo have nothing but pride to play for as they travel to Istanbul in search of their first point of the competition.

The Blue and Whites' struggles stem from their weakness at both ends of the pitch, having scored just once - the fewest in the Europa League - while conceding the most (15), their worst defensive record in a major European competition since 2020-21, when they conceded 18 goals.

Their porous defence will be put to the test by the hosts' prolific attack, which has netted a tournament high 15 times, making Tuesday's encounter all the more daunting for the visitors.

Adding to Dynamo's woes is their recent record against Turkish opposition, having lost each of their last four meetings in all competitions - more defeats than in their first 22 such encounters, when they won 13, drew six and lost just three.

The visitors' last competitive match was a 1-0 league win over Veres on 16 December, which kept them at the top of the Ukrainian top flight, and since then they have played five friendlies, winning their last two against Maribor and CSKA 1948 Sofia by scores of 2-0 and 4-1 respectively.

Recent Performance

Galatasaray Europa League form:WDWWDD

Galatasaray form (all competitions):DWWWWD

Dynamo Kiev Europa League form:LLLLLL

Dynamo Kiev form (all competitions):DDWLWL

Team News

Galatasaray's Dries Mertens has registered an assist in each of his last three Europa League games and is expected to start again on Tuesday.

The Belgian midfielder could become the first player in the competition's history to reach 70 appearances, with his current tally of 69 level with Atalanta goalkeeper Rui Patricio.

Yunus Akgun, the tournament's top scorer with five goals, is expected to start on the flank, while summer loanee Victor Osimhen, who has 14 goals in 18 appearances in all competitions, is likely to lead the line again after scoring last time out.

On the injury front, the hosts will be without veteran striker Mauro Icardi, who is out for the season with a cruciate ligament injury, while midfielder Gabriel Sara is also out with a hamstring problem.

The visitors will be without Volodymyr Shepelev, Andriy Yarmolenko and Brayan Ceballos, all of whom are out with injury.

Vladyslav Kabaeiv, who scored Dynamo's only goal in the European competition this season, is expected to retain his place on the flank, while Vladyslav Vanat could again lead the line in search of his first goal in the competition.

Possible starting lineup

Galatasaray possible starting lineup:

Muslera; Sanchez, Baltaci, Bardakci, Jakobs; Torreira, Demirbay, Akgun, Mertens, Yilmaz; Osimhen

Dynamo Kiev possible starting lineup:

Bushchan; Tymchyk, Popov, Mykhavko, Vivcharenko; Brazhko, Shaparenko; Kabaev, Buyalskyy, Voloshyn; Vanat