Eintracht Frankfurt will have their hands full once Galatasaray arrive at Deutsche Bank Park on Thursday. Don’t miss this fixture, as it has the potential to be a goal fiesta.
Compared to some, Eintracht Frankfurt got a fairly easy draw, which gives them a considerable chance to make it out of the League Stage in only their third appearance in the Champions League since the competition exists. While the Eagles have been a regular in UEFA’s tournaments over the 7-8 years, they mostly played in the Europa League, even winning it in 2021/22.
Until last week, Eintracht were unbeaten in Germany, starting the season with three wins in a row and 12 goals scored in the process. However, the recent round saw them lose 3-1 away at Bayer Leverkusen, which is not surprising to be fair, but the match exposed some weaknesses in defence. But their fans shouldn’t be that worried, as Eintracht went unbeaten at home in the League Phase of the EL last season.
This, in turn, should be a worrying factor for Galatasaray, whose last away win in Europe dates back to the 2023/24 season or eight games ago. The only positive is that they scored in every single of those away games and it is more than possible we see it happen again, as the Lions have a perfect record this season, with five astonishing wins in the Turkish Super Lig and a goal difference of 15:1.
How the bookies view it: Not one-sided at all
Bookmakers understand that Eintracht Frankfurt will have the home advantage but the odds do not exactly rule out Galatasaray. You can currently pick the Eagles at 11/10 or the Lions at 23/10, while the draw is also an option at 11/4.
Recent head-to-head: Back at it 33 years later
While Eintracht Frankfurt and Galatasaray have met in the past, it was almost 33 years ago. The teams met in the UEFA Cup in 1992, with Galatasaray winning at home and the match in Germany ending level.
Players to watch: Will Osimhen be match fit?
Even after selling their two main strikers in 2025, Eintracht Frankfurt have enough firepower to crush most Bundesliga teams. It should be enough to deal enough damage to Galatasaray too, with players like Jean-Matteo Bahoya and Ritsu Doan making serious statements on the domestic stage.
On the other end, Galatasaray’s chances will heavily depend on Victor Osimhen’s return. The Nigerian missed the last match with an ankle injury but is confident he will be fit for the first CL tie. With 37 goals across all competitions last season, including six in the Europa League, you can expect him to be all over Eintracht’s defence.
Right now, you can back Osimhen to score at 13/10 and you can get an advantage with our Priced Up Bet Promo Code, which includes £20 in free bets.
Probable line-ups
Eintracht Frankfurt: Zetterer, Theate, Koch, Collins, Brown, Hojlund, Chaibi, Bahoya, Uzun, Doan, Burkardt
Galatasaray: Cakir, Elmali, Bardakci, Sanchez, Sallai, Sara, Torreira, Sane, Akgun, Gundogan, Osimhen
Anything else catch the eye?
One thing is guaranteed – there will be goals. And we expect both teams to take part in the action. Both sides have been almost flawless this season, if we don’t count Eintracht’s resent upset at Leverkusen. But this match also proved that they are not at all invincible.
And we believe Galatasaray can come up with a good enough plan to steal a point. This is a high risk but we will back the draw in this matchup. With players like Mauro Icardi, Leroy Sane Victor Osimhen and Ilkay Gundogan, the Lions have a squad with a wealth of experience at the highest level that can disrupt Eintracht’s plans.
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