Galatasaray will tackle Dutch aspect Ajax of their closing UEFA Europa League group-stage match on Thursday, aiming to safe a top-eight end.
The match can be held at Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam, kicking off at 11 p.m. native time (Turkish Standard Time). Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano will officiate, assisted by Diego Barbero and Angel Nevado, with Guillermo Cuadra serving because the fourth official. Carlos del Cerro Grande will oversee the VAR room, assisted by Alejandro Hernandez.
Galatasaray stays undefeated within the competitors, amassing 13 factors from three wins and 4 attracts. Having already secured a spot within the Round of 16 playoffs, the Turkish membership seeks a win to complete among the many prime eight groups and advance on to the final 16, bypassing the playoffs.
This season, the Europa League adopted a brand new 36-team league format, with the highest eight groups incomes direct qualification to the Round of 16. A victory in Amsterdam would considerably increase Galatasaray’s probabilities of ending on this elite bracket.
If Galatasaray wins, they are going to accumulate 16 factors and await slip-ups from Eintracht Frankfurt, Athletic Bilbao, Manchester United, Olympique Lyon, Tottenham, Anderlecht, or FCSB to verify a top-eight spot.
Ajax, a traditionally dominant European membership, has endured an inconsistent Europa League marketing campaign, securing three wins, one draw, and three losses in seven matches. The Dutch aspect sits in sixteenth place with 10 factors, nonetheless needing a outcome to verify their development to the following stage.
Despite beginning the marketing campaign with a commanding 4-0 win over Beşiktaş, Ajax has misplaced their final three group-stage video games to Real Sociedad, Lazio, and RFS.
In the Eredivisie, Ajax has recorded 14 wins, three attracts, and two defeats in 19 matches, trailing league leaders PSV Eindhoven by 4 factors with a recreation in hand.
Head coach Francesco Farioli, who beforehand labored in Turkish soccer with Alanyaspor and Fatih Karagümrük, is conversant in Galatasaray and the Turkish league. The Italian tactician spent two seasons teaching in Türkiye earlier than transferring to France’s OGC Nice and finally taking cost of Ajax this season.
Turkish worldwide defender Ahmetcan Kaplan is a part of the Ajax roster. The 22-year-old joined the membership from Trabzonspor in 2022 for over $10 million however has struggled with accidents, limiting him to only 19 appearances over two and a half seasons. Kaplan has featured in six official matches this season and will face Galatasaray if chosen by Farioli.
Galatasaray can be with out three gamers for the essential fixture. Star ahead Mauro Icardi is sidelined for the rest of the season resulting from an damage sustained in opposition to Tottenham. Meanwhile, Roland Sallai and Ahmed Kutucu, who joined the squad after UEFA’s squad registration deadline, are ineligible to play.
Additionally, 5 key Galatasaray gamers – Davinson Sanchez, Lucas Torreira, Dries Mertens, Yunus Akgün, and Victor Osimhen – are susceptible to suspension. Each has accrued two yellow playing cards and can miss the following spherical if booked in Amsterdam.
Ajax can be lacking midfielder Branco van den Boomen, who’s suspended after receiving a yellow card within the final match in opposition to RFS. The Dutch membership may also be with out injured gamers Benjamin Tahirovic, Owen Wijndal, and Amourricho van Axel-Dongen, whereas Davy Klaassen was not included within the UEFA squad checklist.
The Turkish giants are having fun with a formidable unbeaten run, having prevented defeat of their final 26 aggressive matches throughout all competitions. Their final loss got here on Aug. 27 within the UEFA Champions League playoff second leg in opposition to Young Boys. Since then, they’ve recorded 18 wins and eight attracts in home and European fixtures.
Galatasaray has drawn all three of their Europa League away matches this season, holding RFS (2-2), AZ Alkmaar (1-1), and Malmö (2-2).
Galatasaray has been probably the most prolific attacking crew within the Europa League this season, scoring 18 objectives in seven matches – greater than some other crew within the competitors. However, their defensive vulnerabilities are evident, having conceded 14 objectives, making them probably the most porous defenses among the many prime 24 groups, alongside Beşiktaş.
A victory in Amsterdam would additional lengthen Galatasaray’s unbeaten run and strengthen their push for direct qualification to the Round of 16.
Source: www.dailysabah.com