Galatasaray are guests again at AZ Alkmaar!
As in the league phase of the 2024/25 Europa League, AZ Alkmaar and Galatasaray will also face each other in the knockout phase of the current competition. In the 2024/25 EL intermediate round, AZ will have the home advantage in the first leg. Nevertheless, the “cheese farmers” are the slight underdog. For an Alkmaar vs. Galatasaray tip on the Dutch hosts, betting odds of up to 2.60 are currently available.
In the first round of the season, the two clubs drew in their first game of the season at AZ. The Dutch team took a 1-0 lead, but Galatasaray equalized before half-time. In the end, it remained 1-1 – although both clubs generated numerous chances during the game.
A similar course of play is not out of the question this time either. After all, both offenses have been in top form recently. If you want to place a bet on Over 2.5 goals in the European Cup game between AZ Alkmaar and Galatasaray, you can also use Betano for betting.
Alkmaar – Statistics & current form
AZ Alkmaar already secured their place in the knockout phase of the 2024/25 Europa League the previous matchday. Although the last matchday against Ferencváros Budapest had no particular significance, AZ only just lost to the Hungarians. In the final stages, the Dutch club even reduced the deficit to 3:4 against “Fradi” from Budapest.
It was the third defeat in the main round of the 2024/25 EL. In five of eight group matches, however, AZ Alkmaar scored, including two matches against Turkish clubs. They won 3-1 at home against Fenerbahce Istanbul. In addition, as previously mentioned, there was a draw against Galatasaray (1-1).
At home, the team of head coach Maarten Martens is aiming for a good result and is relying on their home strength. AZ have only lost twice in their last 34 home games in international competition and are therefore brimming with confidence ahead of the upcoming encounter. In the current campaign, they have recorded a 3-1-0 record in the four European home matches in the 2024/25 season.
Can Alkmaar extend the winning streak?
AZ have won three competitive games in a row. The Martens XI scored a total of seven goals in these three encounters. Two of these seven goals were scored by AZ last weekend against PEC Zwolle, thus celebrating a successful dress rehearsal before the upcoming showdown against the Turkish record champions.
This will be the ninth time Alkmaar have faced a Süper Lig club. In the eight previous encounters – including two matches this season – they have recorded a 3-4-0 record and have never lost to a Turkish club.
AZ coach Maarten Martens has to do without at least four players in the squad against the guests from Istanbul. In addition to three injury concerns, Kristijan Belic is also suspended. Compared to the team that last played in the league against PEC Zwolle, a few changes can be expected at AZ. Numerous key players were rested.
Predicted Alkmaar lineup:
Galatasaray – Statistics & current form
Turkish football continues to go downhill – at least that is the interim conclusion after the last matchday in the 2024/25 Süper Lig. Galatasaray led 1-0 at home to Adana after a controversial penalty decision. The bottom-placed team then left the pitch in protest, causing another scandal in the Turkish top flight by abandoning the game.
“Cimbom” has since been preparing for the upcoming match in the 2024/25 Europa League. The TFF has yet to make a decision, but three points for the Turkish record champions after the abandoned game seems likely. Internationally, the Lions face the first leg of the intermediate round against AZ this week.
Gala already visited Alkmaar during the league phase and only just missed out on a coup against the Dutch side, with an xG ratio of 2.10. The match at AZ’s AFAS Stadium ended in a draw (1:1). Now Okan Buruk’s team has another chance – and if they succeed, they can set the course for the round of 16.
Will Cimbom remain winless on Dutch soil again?
This will be Galatasaray’s seventh game at a Dutch club. In the six previous meetings, “Cimbom” remained winless and even lost five of those six encounters. Only against AZ was there a draw on foreign soil in the main round of the EL 2024/25. It is therefore also risky this time to place a bet on the guests at AZ Alkmaar vs.
However, betting fans who still want to place a bet on it can also use the Merkur Bets bonus for it. This bookmaker sometimes offers the best odds on the 1X2 market. What’s more, the encounter between AZ and “Cimbom” is also available as a live game in the Merkur Bets betting program.
GS coach Okan Buruk will have to do without at least six players in the squad for the upcoming match against the “cheese farmers”. Among them are key players such as Victor Osimhen, Yunus Akgün, Lucas Torreira and Davinson Sanchez. The personnel worries will be difficult for Okan Buruk & Co. to overcome, especially since Gala’s two top scorers, Akgün and Osimhen, are missing.
Galatasaray’s expected line-up:
Alkmaar – Galatasaray head to head/H2H record
The two clubs met for the first time ever in the 2024/25 Europa League main round. The match at AZ’s AFAS Stadium ended in a draw (1-1).
Alkmaar – Galatasaray Betting tip
AZ Alkmaar wants to seize the opportunity and take the lead against the weakened Lions in the first leg of the Europa League intermediate round 2024/25. The Dutch team are relying on their home strength in particular. AZ have only lost twice in their last 34 matches at home in international competition. During this period, Alkmaar also remained unbeaten three times at home against Turkish clubs.
The aim is to improve the record against “Cimbom”. Galatasaray has to overcome current personnel problems and do without numerous key players against AZ. With Victor Osimhen and Yunus Akgün, Galatasaray is also missing its two top scorers internationally. It therefore remains to be seen how the Lions will perform against AZ.
So far, “Cimbom” has never won a European Cup game with a Dutch club. Bets on this are also associated with a lot of risk this time. Instead, we opt for Over 3.5 goals between AZ Alkmaar and Galatasaray with odds of 2.18 and bet five units on it. There is enough offensive power on both sides for this.
