Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen is set to spearhead Galatasaray’s attack today as the Turkish champions travel to Monaco in the UEFA Champions League (UCL).
Both teams sit mid-table in the league phase and will be meeting for the seventh time in the competition.
Monaco head into the fixture on uneven form. Despite edging PSG recently, the French side have endured a poor five-match spell that has slowed their progress in the UCL and Ligue 1. With six points from five games, they are now fighting to remain within the top 24.
Optimistic supporters, however, note that Monaco are unbeaten in four European matches. Their 1-0 victory over Bodø/Glimt on matchday four remains their only win in their last eight outings in the competition. The club’s struggles at home also persist, with just three victories in their last 14 UCL main-draw matches — a run that leaves pressure firmly on the hosts ahead of Galatasaray’s visit.
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That leaves the door open for Galatasaray, but they too arrive in Monaco in wayward form, losing two of their last five across all competitions, including a defeat against Union Saint-Gilloise in their last UCL outing.
Okan Buruk’s side at least steadied the ship by claim- ing a last gasp 3-2 domestic win over the weekend thanks to a 93rd-minute winner.
That was a morale-boosting victory as they look to claim successive away UCL wins for just the second ever time, but the history books suggest that that might be a tall order, as of the 26 teams to have played 50+ away UCL fix- tures, only Olympiacos (11%) have a lower win rate in such matches than Galatasaray (13%)!
