Will Gala strike back in the principality?

Victor Osimhen is Galatasaray’s life insurance policy. Both nationally and internationally! With two goals, one of them in the final minute, the Nigerian secured his team a 3-2 league win against Samsunspor on Friday.

In the Champions League, the masked man is second in the scoring charts behind Kylian Mbappé with six goals. Osimhen has scored for the Turkish champions in eight consecutive European Cup games. Ahead of Tuesday evening’s crucial Champions League clash between Monaco and Galatasaray, my first recommendation is to bet on Osimhen to score!

There is a lot at stake for both sides at the Stade Louis II. The home side are currently in 23rd place with six points, which would qualify them for the playoffs after eight matchdays. However, with Real Madrid still to come in the new year and a home game against Juventus to finish, the Monegasques would be well advised to add three points to their tally on Tuesday.

The same applies to the visitors from Turkey, who are 14th in the league, just one point behind the top eight, and keen to keep their sights set on a direct ticket to the round of 16. In addition, “Cimbom” will be looking to make up for their defeat in Belgium two weeks ago. If they manage to do so with a win, a Monaco vs. Galatasaray prediction of an away win would yield odds of up to 3.00.

Given the high significance of this match and the fact that the Red and Whites in particular have struggled offensively recently, it is definitely worth considering adding under goals odds to your betting slip before the Monaco vs. Galatasaray match.

Monaco vs. Galatasaray prediction AI

Looking at the xG values calculated by artificial intelligence, the assumption of under 3.5 goals is supported. An expected goal count of 1.80 in favor of Monaco is contrasted with 1.44 for the Turkish champions. The estimated probability of victory for the hosts is 46.7%, which corresponds to betting odds of 2.14.

Monaco – Statistics & current form

What does AS Monaco have in common with title contenders such as FC Bayern, Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Paris St. Germain? That’s right, all of the clubs mentioned have suffered only one defeat in the first five matchdays of the current UEFA Champions League season. While FCB, City, PSG, and Co. still have good prospects of finishing the league phase in the top eight, the Monegasques are even fighting for their playoff ticket. This is because last year’s third-placed team from Ligue 1 has also only won a single match. Three draws complete the average overall record of six points and 23rd place.

Coach and team not yet speaking the same language in Monaco

In general, fans in the principality are currently going through a difficult phase. The change of coach from Adi Hütter to Sebastien Pocognoli, who was poached from an existing contract at Royale Union SG, has so far only had a limited effect. In eleven competitive games under the former Bundesliga professional, there have been only four wins (4-3-4). Three of the last five games have been lost, including the dress rehearsal at the weekend against Stade Brest (0-1).

Above all, the change on the sidelines has tended to harm the team’s scoring threat and offensive efficiency. The Red and Whites have scored more than one goal in only two of the eleven competitive games mentioned. In seven of eleven cases, a bet on under 2.5 would have paid off. For the upcoming match, I expect few goals again. I would also refrain from predicting a home win for Monaco vs. Galatasaray, especially since none of the two CL home games this season have been won (two draws, 2-2 goals). I am even leaning towards odds above the doubling mark for DNB 2.

Galatasaray – Statistics & current form

After three consecutive Champions League wins, including a 1-0 victory over English champions Liverpool, the Gala pros in Istanbul were almost overwhelmed by the emerging euphoria. Experts were quick to conclude that the Turkish top club must be counted among the top eight teams in European club soccer.

Two weeks ago, the Lions were finally brought back down to earth with a bump. Instead of securing the three points they had firmly planned to take at home against Royale Union SG, coach Okan Buruk’s team suffered a surprise 0-1 defeat, dropping them back to 14th place. Considering that matches against Atlético Madrid and Manchester City are on the schedule for the new year, direct qualification for the round of 16 seems to be a long way off for now.

Galatasaray does not necessarily stand for spectacle in the CL

To maintain their chances of moving up the table, it would therefore be very important to win on Tuesday evening. The only problem is that “Cimbom” is one of the most unsuccessful teams in Champions League history when it comes to away games. Of a total of 26 clubs that have played 50+ away games in the premier class, only Olympiacos Piraeus has a lower win rate than Galatasaray. The Turks have only won eight of 63 away games.

It is also worth mentioning that the Yellow Reds still have room for improvement in attack. Three of their eight goals have come from penalties. A total of 15 goals have been scored in five Champions League games involving Gala. However, if you exclude the 5-1 defeat in Frankfurt in their opening game, that’s just nine goals in four matches. Two goals conceded in these four games also testify to a stable defense.

In well under half of all competitive games played, a maximum of three goals were scored (8/20), which is why the betting odds of 1.61 for under 3.5 between Monaco and Galatasaray are definitely playable.

Monaco – Galatasaray Head-to-head record

These clubs have met six times in the past. Monaco leads the head-to-head record with three wins, two draws, and only one defeat. However, even the most recent direct duels are more than 25 years in the past, so the relevance of the head-to-head is limited.

It is more interesting to note that Galatasaray has won only two of its last ten encounters with French clubs in European competition (1-2-7) and has scored just 0.55 goals per game in a total of eleven away games in France. Cimbom has come away empty-handed three times in a row in the country of the 2018 World Cup champions. For that to change on Tuesday, Victor Osimhen will need to be in his usual European Cup form!

Monaco – Galatasaray Tip

Important points are at stake for both teams on Tuesday evening at Stade Louis II. Currently, Monaco and Galatasaray would both be in the playoffs. However, the Turks are still eyeing a place in the top eight, while the Monegasques are desperate to defend their place in the top 24. Although the home side have rarely been able to reach their full potential recently, I see them as being on a par with their opponents over 90 minutes. It is therefore better to avoid a three-way bet. On the two-way market (DNB), however, a prediction on the visitors promises more profitable, higher odds!

All in all, my Monaco vs. Galatasaray tip is for under 3.5 goals. Galatasaray has conceded only two goals in its last four CL games. Since the appointment of coach Pocognoli, the home team from the principality has also defined itself through solid defensive work. In seven of eleven AS competitive games under the Belgian, a maximum of two goals were scored. In combination with the aforementioned significance, three goals after 90 minutes is the best I can imagine!