“Welcome to hell” said the infamous banner when Manchester United set foot in Istanbul back in 1993. Fans are probably wondering whether that should now be employed at Old Trafford for home supporters to gaze upon.
It’s not been a positive start to the season for Erik ten Hag and his players. Injuries have decimated them. Headlines have been written about off-field antics. The takeover saga is ongoing. And on the pitch, they have lost four of seven league matches and their opening Champions League bout. Galatasaray aren’t quite the force they used to be but they represent strong opposition nonetheless. They are unbeaten this season, making the Champions League despite entering at the second qualifying round and have won their last six in the league. The likes of Wilfried Zaha and Hakim Ziyech will be smelling blood.
We’ve detailed everything you need below to form your own Man United vs Galatasaray bet builder below so you can sit back and watch chaos reign once more at Old Trafford as your bank balance grows. For further guidance on our the numbers in this article you can check out our Stats Pack Guide.
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MAN United VS GALATASARAY PREDICTED LINEUPS
Man United’s injury crisis shows no signs of letting up
Erik ten Hag will be without three of his first-choice back four for the visit of Galatasaray and it’s causing him all manner of problems. Mason Mount could make his first Champions League start for the club, but there may have to be some makeshift defensive options deployed against an exciting Gala forward line.
Many ex-Premier League stars could line up for Galatasaray
The main question for Galatasaray is whether Hakim Ziyech is available to be part of the side. Otherwise, a team led by Mauro Icardi and Dries Mertens could feature a number of ex-Premier League stars. That includes former Man United man Wilfried Zaha, Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira, Man City full back Angelino and Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez. They even have former Leicester City, Brentford and Spurs players Tete, Halil Dervisoglu and Tanguy Ndombele on the books.
MAN United VS GALATASARAY TEAM STATS
United performing okay at home
Despite poor results, United have actually performed okay at home. They’ve had a minimum of 14 shots in all five matches played at Old Trafford this season in all competitions and a minimum of eight corners per game – they’re getting into the right areas and simply not taking their opportunities when they come. Notably, frustration has risen from that – they’ve received two or more cards in every league game.
Galatasaray ruthless in Europe
It’s difficult to get a steer on exactly how Galatasaray’s league form will pay off in Europe – they are utterly dominant on home turf at present, which is evident in their results. In Europe, their play-off game vs Molde was interesting – they managed just 15 shots compared to 34 over the tie but won both games. Against Copenhagen on matchday one, they managed 14 shots and nine corners. The fouls and cards situation is most of interest – they have committed 25 fouls and received five cards in three games but have drawn an impressive 45 fouls and 11 cards.
MAN United VS GALATASARAY SHOTS AND SHOTS ON TARGET stats
Hojlund finding his feet
Man United have been desperate for a leading striker to stand up and be counted and early showings from new boy Rasmus Hojlund suggest he’s ready to do that while also offering a goal threat – he’s had two or more shots in his three starts. Bruno Fernandes is the standout otherwise, having two or more shots in his last four games and a shot on target in three of those.
Icardi the main man for Gala
Mauro Icardi is unsurprisingly the man shooting the bullets for Galatasaray, the vastly experienced forward has managed two or more shots in eight of nine starts and three or more in six of those, having a shot on target in each game – you can back him at 1.33 to have two shots and 1.57 to hit the target in your bet builder.
MAN United VS GALATASARAY GOALS AND ASSISTS stats
Casemiro loves a competition goal
Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford are United’s obvious threats and they both managed an assist against Bayern Munich. Casemiro scored twice. He then played against Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup and managed a goal and an assist. He also managed six goal contributions in Europe last season – he’s 3.30 to score or assist in this encounter.
Gala front two doing everything
As discussed above, Mauro Icardi is the main man. He knows it, and ten goals in all competitions only heightens that belief. His supporting act is Kerem Akturkoglu, who has scored four and assisted six in all competitions. Both are 3.0 and if you believe Galatasaray are going to score, they are very, very likely to be involved.
MAN United CARDS AND FOULS stats
fernandes’ frustration being highlighted
Bruno Fernandes does everything. He shoots. He scores. He passes. He works hard. He kicks opponents. The United captain has three yellow cards this season and has committed a foul in six of his last seven appearances. His Portuguese compatriot Diogo Dalot isn’t having an easy season – he has fouled an opponent in five of seven starts.
Poor Dalot – he’s about to come up against Wilfried Zaha. The man that was fouled over three times per 90 in his past five seasons and was fouled three times on his full debut for Galatasaray. Meanwhile, Lucas Torreira will be hoping to get under the skin of Fernandes – he has been fouled two or more times in his last six matches.
GALATASARAY CARDS AND FOULS stats
Demirbay a consistent fouler
Despite being partnered next to Torreira, it’s Kerem Demirbay doing the damage for Galatasaray, committing a foul in his last six matches and two or more in four of his last six. Right back Sacha Boey is just as committed – he has fouled an opponent in eight of his ten appearances and been halted twice or more in five of those.
Not many United players actually get fouled too much – perhaps a sign that their players don’t commit the opposition enough. Mason Mount is good for a foul – the England man has been fouled in two of his four appearances in red and has been fouled more than once per game in each of the last four seasons.
Man United vs Galatasaray Key Matchups
Bruno Fernandes vs Lucas Torreira
Diogo Dalot vs Wilfried Zaha
Kerem Demirbay vs Mason Mount
