Multiple changes may leave Tottenham exposed at Galatasaray

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image

Tottenham travel to Turkey for a Europa League match with Galatasaray hoping to exorcise some of their recent poor performances away from home.

Spurs have won nine of their last 11 matches in all competitions, beating both West Ham and Aston Villa 4-1 and knocking Manchester City out of the Carabao Cup with a 2-1 success in N17, but their last two away days have been disasters.

First, they blew a 2-0 half-time lead at Brighton thanks to a terrible second-half performance in which individual errors led to a 3-2 defeat, then they made the shorter trip to Crystal Palace where a dismal team display led to the Eagles gaining a 1-0 win for their first Premier League victory of the season.

Top scorers in the top-flight, Spurs hold strong claims to be the most entertaining side in English football when they are playing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium while being the most frustrating when they on are their travels.

They have taken a maximum nine points after opening their Europa League campaign with three wins, beating FK Qarabag, Ferencvaros and AZ Alkmaar – a tally only matched by Lazio and Anderlecht – but Galatasaray will be different gravy after also registering nine wins from 11 matches in all outings this term.

Ange Postecoglou is likely to shuffle his pack and will be without first-choice central defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven and although Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies are decent replacements, a Tottenham side which could also feature young prospects Mikey Moore, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and possibly Will Lankshear in attack may find the going tough in Istanbul if Galatasaray field their strongest line-up.

The Turkish League leaders lost over two legs to Swiss side Young Boys in the Champions League qualifiers but have beaten PAOK Salonika and Elfsborg at home either side of a draw at Latvian club Rigas in Europe’s second-tier tournament.

Galatasaray may be too strong on home territory and Victor Omishen, who has been trailed by numerous Premier League clubs, is 6/1 with Sky Bet to hit the first goal and 13/8 with the same firm to score at any time. Son Heung-Min is 11/4 to reply for the London club while both teams to score and Galatasaray to win is 5/2 with bet365 and Betway.

Even if they are beaten, Tottenham can reach the knockout stages with ease and are worthy favourites to win the Europa League at 4/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral.

• Manchester United fans revelling in new manager Ruben Amorim leading Sporting to a 4-1 Champions League success against Manchester City in Lisbon on Tuesday can rejoice further when their side convincingly beats Europa League opponents PAOK Salonika at Old Trafford.

Draws with FC Twente, Porto and Fenerbahce have left the hosts with work to do to reach the knockout stages but they can beat their Greek opponents by more than one goal at 4/5 with Unibet. Alejandro Garnacho is 23/4 to open the scoring with Unibet and BetUK and 17/10 with the former firm to find the net at any time.

• Chelsea can warm up for Sunday’s Premier League London derby at home to Arsenal by walloping Europa Conference League visitors Noah. The Blues will make sweeping changes to the side which drew 1-1 with Manchester United on Sunday but are still worth backing at 6/1 with bet365, Paddy Power, BoyleSports and Betfair to win 4-0. Have a saver on a 5-0 home victory at 9/1 with Paddy Power and Betfair.

Source