This Europa League qualifer sees Swedish side Ostersunds host Turkish giants Galatasaray.
Ostersunds have entered their maiden European by virtue of winning last season’s Swedish Cup. The 2017 Swedish league campaign is already well underway with Ostersunds currently sitting in sixth after 14 games, winless in their last three outings in all competitions.
Graham Potter’s side have had a few problems at the back recently and their previously-mentioned winless run has mainly been down to an inability to keep clean sheets with none in their last three in all competitions, conceding seven goals in total. However, they have been good in the final third of late having found the back of the net in all but one of their last seven outings in all competitions, scoring over 1.5 goals in four of those seven games.
Home form has been excellent for Ostersunds in the last few months and they have not lost a single match in all competitions at Jamtkraft Arena in 2017. However, they have lacked a bit of solidity at the back on home soil in the last few matches with no clean sheet in their last three. This match against Galatasaray will of course be the first time Ostersunds have played a home European tie so it will be interesting to see how they cope with the additional pressure and change in style of play.
Galatasaray are returning to European football this campaign following their ban from UEFA last year. The former 2015 Turkish champions have had a disappointing last couple of years in the Turkish Super Lig with a sixth and fourth place finishes respectively.
Despite having a relatively poor season last year, Cimbom were lethal in front of goal, finding the back of the net 65 times in 34 league games – the second-highest in the Turkish Super Lig. However, their defence was relatively poor and manager Igor Tudor has so far failed to strengthen his backline in this summer transfer window.
Towards the back end of last season, Tudor’s men were excellent on the road with three consecutive victories, scoring 11 goals in the process. Additionally, in terms of this match, they have only lost two of their 15 Europa League away matches – a record stretching back to February 2008.
Unsurprisingly, Galatasaray are the favourites here and, despite Ostersund’s superb home record in 2017, I expect them to do a job on Thursday night. Ostersund’s inability to keep clean sheets and Galatasaray’s goalscoring potential means Galatasaray to Win and Over 2.5 Goals Total at 17/10 looks like a good option here. Furthermore, it allows a Ostersund goal against a dodgy Gala backline.