Galatasaray VS Manchester United Match Prediction

The most recent meeting between Galatasaray and Manchester United came in the 2012/13 Champions League, with the Turkish side winning their home game 1-0 but going down to a defeat by the same scoreline when they visited Old Trafford. 

Prior to that, it was a pair of games without a goal for Galatasaray in the 1994/5 Champions League, with United 4-0 winners at home and earning a point with a 0-0 draw in Turkey. In the previous season's Champions League, both games between the sides ended in a draw.

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Galatasaray v Manchester United: Prediction

Manchester United should be better than Galatasaray, but the Turkish outfit are always tough opponents and they will be out to cause an upset here. United's pre-season has been disrupted by the disastrous lack of preparedness in Beijing, so they are a game behind where they were expected to be at this stage. However, the debut of Ibrahimovic ought to give United a big lift.

Galatasaray v Manchester United: Betting Tips

United have been made 3/4 favourites for this game, which seems a fair price given how much stronger than Gala's their squad is, while the Turks are offered at 77/20 to win in 90 minutes. The draw is a reasonable option here at odds of 59/20, while both teams to score stands out at 13/20.

Former United target Wesley Sneijder is the biggest name in the Gala squad and he could line up here, along with Lukas Podolski, with Jan Olde Riekerink preparing his squad for the new season.

Other recognisable names likely to be involved against Manchester United include the goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and Turkey international winger Hamit Altintop.

Galatasaray likely XI:

Muslera, Kaya, Aziz, Balta, Linnes, Inan, Dzemaili, Altintop, Sneijder, Ergun, Podolski.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to make his first appearance for Manchester United in this game, with the former Sweden captain returning to his homeland for the occasion. Ibrahimovic has been reunited with his coach from Inter Milan, Jose Mourinho, as the pair seek to get United back into the top four of the Premier League, which comes with qualification for the Champions League.

Marcus Rashford is likely to be involved for United too after the team's pre-season preparations were affected by the cancellation of a planned friendly against Manchester City in Beijing.

Manchester United likely XI:

Romero, Darmian, Smalling, Tuanzebe, Blind, Fellaini, Schneiderlin, Rooney, Mkhitaryan, Ibrahimovic, Rashford.

Galatasaray will perhaps be taking this match slightly more seriously than United, who will see the game as an opportunity to work on fitness levels first and foremost, but a challenging contest could be in store. United have by far the better players, however, while Mourinho\'s desire to win and the influence of Ibrahimovic on his return to his home country should see the Premier League side win this game.

Galatasaray have only beaten Manchester United once in six attempts.