An out-of-form Manchester United return to Champions League action against Galatasaray at Old Trafford on Tuesday evening.
The Red Devils have made their worst start to a top-flight season in 34 years, slumping to a fourth defeat in seven games against Crystal Palace on Saturday. United also began their European campaign with the familiar taste of defeat to Bayern Munich.
Galatasaray, by comparison, have not lost a match in any competition since April. The Turkish champions were trailing Kobenhavn going into the final five minutes of their group-stage opener a fortnight ago but rescued a draw with two late goals.
Here’s everything you need to know about the European tie between this contrasting pair.
Man Utd vs Galatasaray H2H Record (Last Five Games)
Current Form (Last Five Games)
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Country |
TV channel/live stream |
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United Kingdom |
TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate, discovery+, discovery+ App |
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United States |
Paramount+, ViX |
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Canada |
DAZN |
Erik ten Hag is unhelpfully vague when it comes to team news but it’s clear that Lisandro Martinez will not feature for the foreseeable future. After aggravating an existing foot issue, the Argentine centre-back joins a treatment room almost exclusively occupied by defenders.
Long-term absentee Tyrell Malacia is out until the end of October at the earliest while fellow left-back Luke Shaw is struggling with a muscular issue. Sergio Reguilon, signed as Shaw’s replacement this summer, picked up a knock last week.
Reguilon’s issue is only minor but it remains unclear whether he will be able to return in midweek and relieve Sofyan Amrabat from the awkward role. Right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka is set to be sidelined for two months with a hamstring injury.
The exciting academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo is still recovering from an ankle issue that he sustained during pre-season.
Man Utd predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Onana; Lindelof, Varane, Evans, Dalot; Casemiro, Amrabat; Fernandes, Mount, Rashford; Hojlund
Hakim Ziyech took to social media to question the veracity of reports that he had failed a medical with Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr in the summer. The former Chelsea winger eventually joined Gala but has only been fit enough to start two games and limped out of last month’s victory over Basaksehir.
Left-back Kazimcan Karatas also had to be removed from that costly win with a knee injury. The 20-year-old is expected to be sidelined until November.
Okan Buruk can still call upon a raft of recognisable – if ageing – names. Former Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Davinson Sanchez has been a fixture of the backline since his summer switch while Crystal Palace icon (and former United misfit) Wilfried Zaha scored his first goal for Galatasaray on Saturday. Mauro Icardi and Dries Mertens, two past stars of Serie A, lead the line for the Istanbul outfit.
Galatasaray predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Muslera; Boey, Sanchez, Bardakci, Angelino; Demirbay, Oliveira; Tete, Mertens, Zaha; Icardi
After a 31-game unbeaten run at Old Trafford across all competitions, United have lost two home games in as many weeks. “We have to do better,” Ten Hag fretted after Saturday’s loss to Palace, “we have to show it in our body language that Old Trafford is a fortress and you can’t get anything here and the only thing you can go away from here with is a loss.”
Galatasaray are unlikely to come away from Manchester with a win. It took a dramatic turnaround to avoid defeat at home to Kobenhavn a fortnight ago. While they may possess some familiar faces, there is a reason those figures have left Europe’s leading leagues.
Although, United have made a habit of stumbling over seemingly jumpable hurdles this season.
Prediction: Man Utd 2-1 Galatasaray
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