Club Brugge V Galatasaray
Wednesday 18th September 2019 – 17:55 Kick-Off
UEFA Champions League
Pick: Under 2.5 Goals
Odds: 10/11
Bookmaker: Bet365
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/10 | 53/20 | 63/20 |
* (All betting odds displayed were correct as of 15th September 2019 at 20:00)
Preview: Some Group A action here, and it could arguably be described as a must-win encounter for these two sides in the knowledge that much tougher assignments await them later on in the shape of PSG and Real Madrid. It is Club Brugge who are seeking to make full use of home advantage though, welcoming Galatasaray to their Jan Breydal Stadium in the Belgium capital.
UEFA Champions League Betting – 22Bet
Club Brugge Preview
Last season’s runners-up in the Belgian top-flight needed to come through two qualifying rounds unscathed to ensure they would feature in the group stage of the Champions League for the third occasion in the past four campaigns. Those previous two appearances, however, were an almighty struggle as Brugge managed just one win combined (W1 D3 L8), and failed to win at all in Belgium (D1 L5).
Dynamo Kiev and LASK Linz stood in their way in those said qualifying rounds. Brugge would secure crucial 1-0 victories in both of the home legs, overcoming the former 4-3 on aggregate and the latter 3-1. Those results at home now mean Club Brugge have actually won their last three European home games (they beat RB Salzburg 2-0 in the first round of knockouts in last season’s Europa League).
As well as making progress on the continent recently, the club have also made some positive inroads domestically. Manager Philippe Clement has overseen the only remaining unbeaten team in the Belgium top-flight this season (W4 D2), with the defence in particular excelling – just the two goals conceded, at a rate of 0.33 per game, is at least four fewer than any of their rivals.
However, it should be noted that of their three league fixtures contested on home soil so far, only one – a 6-0 rout of Sint-Truiden – was converted into three points, with frustrating draws against Eupen (0-0) and KRC Genk (1-1).
Galatasaray Preview
As Turkish champions, Galatasaray were spared the ordeal of having to qualify for the Champions League proper. So this will now be a second consecutive season spent in the group stages, having finished third on four points in a fairly meek group comprising of FC Porto, Lokomotiv Moscow and Schalke last time around (W1 D1 L4). Meanwhile, not a single point was registered on their travels.
On the basis of those efforts from last season, it is difficult envisaging a scenario where Galatasaray depart Belgium with the victory. Trips to Portugal, Germany and Russia returned zero points as well as no goals scored, losing 1-0 at Porto and succumbing to a couple of 2-0 scorelines at Schalke and Lokomotiv Moscow. It was no different upon demotion to the Europa League, losing a tie 2-1 to Benfica which included a goalless affair in Portugal.
Much to do for the reigning Turkish title holders, who did, at the very least, pick up a morale boosting win on Friday in Turkish Super Lig action, dispatching Kasimpasa 1-0 on home soil. It was far from convincing, though. Radamel Falcao scoring on his club debut was a promising sight but a disallowed goal for the visitors midway through the second half could have soured matters.
As it is, The Lions have now won back-to-back league games, which is a step in the right direction for manager Fatih Terim and his team after a slow start initially that seen them fail to win either of their opening two fixtures (W2 D1 L1 overall in Turkish Super Lig). Away from home, however, they have conceded twice on both occasions (losing 2-0 at Denizlispor and beating Kayserispor 2-3).
Club Brugge V Galatasaray Key Facts:
- Club Brugge have made an unbeaten start domestically (W4 D2), conceding only two goals in six league games.
- Galatasaray made it two wins in as many league games recently but have made a mixed start to their title defence in Turkey (W2 D1 L1).
- This will be the first competitive meeting between these clubs since the 2002-03 Champions League group stage; Club Brugge were 3-1 winners at home.
Betting Summary
Coach Philippe Clement has clearly instilled some positional discipline and organisation into this Club Brugge team. When combining their results in league and Europe this season, they have only conceded a grand total of six goals in ten games, keeping a clean sheet on six occasions. The qualifying rounds saw them record successive 1-0 wins at home, versus Dynamo Kiev and LASK Linz.
Scoring goals has been an issue for Galatasaray in continental action, failing to do so at all in their four combined away outings in either the Champions League or Europa League in 2018-19. That does not auger well ahead of facing a miserly opponent with strong defensive numbers behind them. They will, however, believe the addition of Radamel Falcao can solve those particular problems – and after the Colombian striker wasted no time scoring an important winning goal on his debut at the weekend, perhaps they are right?
Games involving Club Brugge tend to be low on goals this season, with six of their ten games producing two goals or fewer, which becomes four out of five when at home. Factor in Galatasaray’s poor travelling tendencies, as well as the fact they failed to score a goal in any of their four away European matches last season, and it makes sense to back few goals.
