Will Galatasaray suffer their first defeat in the EL?
In Group E of the Europa League, the Turkish record champions from Istanbul have caused a stir so far. After two matchdays, Galatasaray is at the top of the table and is already aiming for the knockout phase. This week, the Turkish representatives have a group match against Lokomotive Moscow coming up.
The Lions’ Thursday opponents have only one point to their name so far and are bottom of Group E. Nevertheless, Lokomotive Moscow still have a realistic chance of making it through to the group stage of the current Europa League. The home match against Galatasaray will be particularly important in this respect.
If Lokomotive are successful, they can draw level on points with their Turkish group rivals.
The last time Lokomotive hosted the visitors from Istanbul, it was almost three years ago in the group stage of the top flight, when the Russian club won comfortably at home – a good omen ahead of Thursday’s match?
Lokomotive Moscow – Statistics & current form
Lokomotive Moscow are currently in a crisis of form. Since the second week of September, there has been no win across competitions for head coach Markus Gisdol’s team. Lokomotive even lost two of their last three competitive matches, including the away game against Lazio Roma. The slump was certainly surprising, as Lokomotive Moscow had previously made a promising start to the season, conceding only one defeat in their first eleven competitive matches.
At home, at least on the international stage, there is a chance to make amends this week. Against Galatasaray, Lokomotive can significantly improve their starting position for the second half of the season. A defeat, on the other hand, would be the coup de grâce, especially since Lokomotive is already in last place in Group E.
The home advantage is particularly encouraging ahead of the match against the Turkish record champions. Lokomotive have only lost one competitive match at home this calendar year. That defeat came in Markus Gisdol’s team’s last home match against FK Rostov.
Does Loko show a defiant reaction against Galatasaray?
Twelve times Lokomotive Moscow have played a club from Turkey on the international stage, with a total of five defeats for the Russian representative. Two of the five defeats were against the upcoming opponents – the last time was almost three years ago.
Only one of the two defeats for Lokomotive Moscow was against Galatasaray in their own stadium. The last time Galatasaray visited Loko, the Russian hosts won 2-0. The Moscow side took the lead before the end of the second half. It is quite possible that bets on “HT/FT: 1/1” will pay off again.
Head coach Markus Gisdol will only have to do without Jedvaj, Cerqueira, Rybus, Magkeev and Miranchuk in the European Cup due to injury. Miranchuk’s absence is particularly serious. After all, the 26-year-old is one of the key players in the Moscow attack. Compared to the starting eleven that was in action last weekend, no major changes are to be expected.
Predicted line-up of Lokomotive Moscow:
Guilherme; Zhivoglyadov, Pablo, Barinov, Tiknizyan; Beka Beka, Kulikov, Maradishvili; Zhemaletdinov; Anjorin, Smolov
Last matches played by Lokomotive Moscow:
Premier League
10/16 2021 – Rubin Kazan 2 – 2 Lokomotive Moscow
10/03 2021 – Lokomotive Moscow 1 – 2 FK Rostov
Europa League Grp. E
09/30 2021 – Lazio Roma 2 – 0 Lokomotive Moscow
Premier League
09/25 2021 – Khimki 0 – 0 Lokomotive Moscow
09/20 2021 – Ural Ekaterinburg 0 – 0 Lokomotive Moscow
Galatasaray – Statistics & current form
Within minutes of the match kicking off, Galatasaray took the lead against Konyaspor last weekend. It was a match of equals for long stretches after that, with the visitors from Konya – still without a defeat at the time – having every chance of scoring the equaliser.
After the exhausting match in the league, the difficult away match in Moscow is coming up during the week. As Group E leaders, Galatasaray can defend their top spot in the group on their own merits if they beat Lokomotive. A loss of points or even a defeat would mean that all four teams still have a realistic chance of reaching the knockout stage.
Because the Lions from Istanbul have stumbled away from home recently, it is more than risky to place bets on an away win in the third group match. However, bettors who would still like to make a prediction on the visitors in Lokomotive Moscow vs. Galatasaray can pick up attractive betting odds if they are successful.
Will Galatasaray remain unbeaten in Group E?
Galatasaray have picked up four points in their first two group games so far. A surprising home win against Lazio Roma was followed by a draw in Marseille in the last group match. Neither against Lazio nor against Marseille did the Turkish record champions concede a goal.
The Lions themselves, on the other hand, scored only one goal. Given the limited offensive power, the goal output was by no means surprising, but the performances of the defensive line were commendable. Especially Marcao, who is still suspended in the Süper Lig for quite some time, has delivered strong performances in the European Cup so far.
The Brazilian is expected to be the starter again in Moscow. Compared to the starting eleven that was last in action in the Süper Lig, further changes cannot be ruled out. After all, head coach Fatih Terim can field far more legionnaires on the international stage than in domestic league competition.
Predicted line-up of Galatasaray:
Muslera; Yedlin, Nelsson, Marcao, Van Aanholt; Kutlu, Antalyali; Morutan, Cicaldau, Aktürkoglu; Dervisoglu
Last matches played by Galatasaray:
Süper Lig
10/17 2021 – Galatasaray 1 – 0 Konyaspor
Friendly club matches
10/12 2021 – Galatasaray 3 – 3 Istanbulspor
10/09 2021 – Galatasaray 4 – 3 Tuzlaspor
Süper Lig
10/03 2021 – Rizespor 2 – 3 Galatasaray
Europa League Grp. E
09/30 2021 – Marseille 0 – 0 Galatasaray
Lokomotive Moscow – Galatasaray Direct comparison / H2H balance
So far, the two clubs have met four times in the European Cups. Both teams have recorded two victories each. The last time Lokomotive Moscow and Galatasaray met was in the group stage of the 2018/19 top flight. Back then, there was a home win (3:1) for Gala in the first leg, whereas Lokomotive won the second leg 2:0 in Moscow.
Lokomotive Moscow – Galatasaray Tip
Although the hosts from Moscow are in a bit of a form crisis at the moment, Markus Gisdol’s team should not be underestimated in their home match against the Turkish record champions. Galatasaray got off to a promising start and even remained unbeaten on the first two matchdays, but the results were sometimes also due to the weak performances of the opponents.
Lokomotive, on the other hand, lacked a bit of luck. Since the Moscow team has only lost one home match at its own stadium this season and in the competition, we do not rule out an act of defiance in the third group match against Galatasaray.
Galatasaray have stumbled away from home – especially in Russia, where the Lions have only won once so far. In addition, Galatasaray only narrowly missed defeat in the away match in Marseille. With a stake of five units, we therefore dare to bet on Lokomotive Moscow vs Galatasaray at attractive odds on the home side.
