Football Bet of the Day: Gala set for goals

We are turning our attention to the Europa League knockout round for Thursday’s Football Bet of the Day, and Istanbul. The Turkish city will host Galatasary vs AZ Alkmaar (17:45, TNT Sports 5) for what promises to be an intriguing second leg, with Okan Buruk’s men 4-1 down from the first match.

Read on to see my Football Bet of the Day, which hopes for goals. 

Galatasaray don’t seem to have any problems scoring goals this season, and they are still unbeaten in the Turkish Super Lig, but it has been their leaky defence that has put them in a tricky situation here. They’ve conceded 20 goals in nine Europa League fixtures this season, including four on Thursday when they were reduced to 10 men in the second half. 

It has meant that they have a hell of a lot of work to do heading into this game at RAMS Park, but I think they will come out swinging. They scored a massive 19 goals in eight league phase games, more than any other side managed in the Europa League up to that point. Table-toppers Lazio scored 17 by comparison, the same number as Tottenham Hotspur, while Manchester United managed 18 across eight matches. 

Football Odds

In their four home matches in the Europa League this term they have scored four, three, three and three goals - so this feels like a likely outcome in front of a raucous home crowd. They downed Spurs on home soil and with Victor Osimhen and Alvaro Morata, have two elite European strikers at their disposal. 

Osimhen is the star. He scored twice in a 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur in November and notched another on home soil in Gala's last league phase match against Dynamo Kyiv, so he could make it three in a row in this competition here. After another brace on Monday he has 19 in all competitions, with five of those coming in the Europa League. 

Galatasaray vs AZ Odds

With 11 men back on the pitch and a target to chase, I think Gala will come out all guns blazing. I’m not sure they will be able to win the tie as you have to expect them to concede again given their dodgy defence, but I do think they will be able to seriously put the pressure on the Dutch outfit. AZ will want a low-scoring boring affair as they target a spot in the last-16, but I simply cannot see that being the case. 

We know what we are going to get from Gala under the lights in a European competition, and that should be goals. As my colleague Nick points out in his fantastic Galatasary vs AZ Alkmaar match preview, AZ have conceded at least twice in three of their four away games in Europe this term, shipping four last time on their travels to Ferencvaros (4-3). 

There should be plenty of chances for the home side to get back into this tie, and with Osimhen firing them in, I think they have a real chance. Over 2.5 home goals is my Football Bet of the Day this Thursday.

Offers

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