Will the Norwegian draw kings score on the Bosporus?
Galatasaray produced very mixed results on the first two matchdays of the Champions League group stage. On the one hand, the Yellow Reds were completely crushed 5-1 away at Eintracht Frankfurt. On the other hand, they beat Liverpool FC 1-0 at home on the second matchday. The initial trend for Galatasaray against Bodö/Glimt is therefore a tip for a home win for the Lions, who now face an unpleasant opponent. The Norwegians held Europa League winners Tottenham Hotspur to a 2-2 draw on the last matchday.
Curiously, the Gule Horde also played 2-2 away at Slavia Prague on the first matchday. FK Bodö/Glimt could now become only the second team in history after Villarreal (in 2005/06) to draw each of their first three Champions League matches, which is not so far-fetched. After all, the Norwegians know where the opponent’s goal is and will certainly not park the bus in their own penalty area at Rams Park. For this reason, too, our prediction for Galatasaray vs. Bodö/Glimt is that there will be goals on both sides.
Another interesting bet is that Galatasaray’s star striker Victor Osimhen will once again get on the scoresheet. The 26-year-old Nigerian has scored in each of his last six international competitive games (seven goals in total). Winamax is offering odds of 1.56 on him continuing this impressive run in Galatasaray vs. Bodö/Glimt.
Galatasaray vs. Bodö/Glimt AI prediction
For Galatasaray vs. Bodö/Glimt, the AI prediction is for a home win for the Yellow-Reds, for which Interwetten is offering odds of 1.60. This implies a probability of 62.5 percent. AI, on the other hand, rates the Turks’ chances of winning at 68 percent.
Galatasaray – Statistics & current form
Galatasaray Istanbul is currently the absolute benchmark in Turkey. After winning the championship, the Yellow-Reds qualified once again for the UEFA Champions League, where the big goal is, of course, to survive the group stage unscathed. However, there was a lot of disappointment on the very first matchday. Cimbom was defeated 5-1 in Frankfurt.
All the more surprising was the 1-0 win against Liverpool FC, which gives them the chance to win two Champions League games in a row. It would be the first time since December 2012 that the Lions have won two Champions League games in a row. Remarkably, against LFC, just 33.4 percent possession was enough to secure victory – the lowest figure for a winner on the first two matchdays and Gala’s lowest recorded possession for a CL victory since 2003/04.
Will Victor Osimhen strike for the seventh game in a row?
Whether Okan Buruk’s team can confirm this sensational victory will certainly depend on Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian has scored in each of his last six European Cup games (seven goals in total) – a club record (equaling Burak Yilmaz between October 2012 and March 2013). Meanwhile, Lucas Torreira is making his mark in the center of the park: he has already won the ball 12 times in the middle third this Champions League season – the best record over the first two matchdays.
If Leroy Sané, who has been criticized from time to time but was euphorically celebrated after his brace in the derby against Basaksehir, has a good day, there is a good chance that Galatasaray will win at home against Bodö/Glimt.
Bodö/Glimt – Statistics & current form
Bodö/Glimt has played Turkish teams seven times. After four attempts without a win between 1996 and 2004 (one draw, three defeats), they have had three consecutive wins since 2023/24, all against Besiktas. So it is somewhat surprising that the odds are so clearly against the Gule Horde in Galatasaray vs. Bodö/Glimt.
In this Champions League season, both of Knutsen’s team’s games ended 2-2. If they manage another draw, Bodö/Glimt would be only the second team in the history of the Champions League (since 1992/93) to draw all of their first three CL games (after Villarreal in 2005/06). .
Bodø/Glimt knows where the opponent’s goal is
Hakon Evjen set up both goals in the 2-2 draw with Tottenham. He became the first Norwegian to record two assists in a Champions League game since October 2002 (John Carew). Odin Björtuft made his mark in the build-up play with 16 passes that bypassed the opposition’s first line of defense. It was the second-highest individual total in the first two matchdays (only Sven Botman had more with 17).
These key figures also underline that Bodø/Glimt brings a healthy mix of precise wing play and progressive build-up play to the Bosporus, as do the two goals scored in each of the first two matchdays. However, against Galatasaray’s ball wins in the middle third, clear moments of inspiration, courageous deep runs and, of course, the necessary efficiency are needed to perhaps even turn the series of draws into an away coup.
Galatasaray – Bodö/Glimt Head-to-head record
The two clubs have never crossed paths before, neither in a friendly nor in an international competitive match. Consequently, there is no head-to-head data available that could influence our prediction for Galatasaray vs. Bodö/Glimt.
Galatasaray – Bodö/Glimt Tip
All in all, the prediction for Galatasaray vs. Bodö/Glimt tends to favor the Turks, who are strong at home and recently sent even the mighty Liverpool FC home with a 1-0 defeat. However, the Gule Horde has caused surprises many times in the past – including just recently on the second matchday against Europa League winners Tottenham (2-2). The Norwegians are very accurate and definitely have what it takes to score points on the Bosporus, which is why we would refrain from betting on a home win for the Lions, contrary to the AI’s prediction.
Instead, there are many indications that there will be a high-scoring Champions League match at Istanbul’s Rams Park. We are betting on goals from both sides. ODDSET is offering odds of 1.52 for both teams to score in Galatasaray vs. Bodö/Glimt, which we are boldly betting on with eight out of ten possible units.
