Preview: Lille vs. Galatasaray · prediction, team news, line-ups
Lille host Galatasaray at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Wednesday 21 October, with kickoff at 17:45 BST, in matchday three of the Champions League league stage.
Both sides are pointless after two games. The French club sit 34th and the Turkish giants 35th in the 36-team table.
Match preview
Lille have lost both of their Champions League games and own a goal difference of -4. They fell 2-3 to Real Betis in their only home match, then lost 3-0 at Arsenal on 13 October.
Domestic form has offered little comfort to Davide Ancelotti. They drew 1-1 with Brest on Saturday, Olivier Giroud equalising from the penalty spot, after beating Le Havre 1-0 and losing 2-1 at Nice.
A friendly on 2 October brought a 2-1 win over Zulte Waregem. Giroud has two goals and two assists in Ligue 1, while Dilane Bakwa also has two league goals.
The issue is at the back. Lille have shipped six goals in two European games, and the two sides combined have conceded 13 in four matches.
Galatasaray are also pointless. They lost 4-1 at home to Barcelona and 3-1 away to Sporting CP, scoring twice and conceding seven.
The Süper Lig has been kinder. They beat Kasımpaşa 3-1 and won 1-0 at Gençlerbirliği on 17 October, winning 19 corners in that game. Before that, they lost 4-0 at Trabzonspor.
Aleksey Batrakov scored against Barcelona and Victor Osimhen leads the line. This is his first return to the club that made his name, before he left for Napoli in 2020.
There is no head-to-head record between the clubs in official competition. With 36 teams in the table, both need points now to avoid falling behind early.
Lille · recent results
- DLille 1-1 Stade Brestois 29
- LArsenal 3-0 Lille
- WLille 1-0 Le Havre
- WLille 2-1 Zulte Waregem
- LNice 2-1 Lille
Galatasaray · recent results
- WGençlerbirliği S.K. 0-1 Galatasaray
- LGalatasaray 1-4 Barcelona
- WGalatasaray 3-1 Kasımpaşa
- DPendikspor 3-3 Galatasaray
- LTrabzonspor 4-0 Galatasaray
Key stats
Trends · last 5 matches
Team news
Lille have several absentees. Ethan Mbappe is suspended after his red card against Betis, and Tiago Santos has torn cruciate ligaments, ruling him out until June 2027. Hamza Igamane is sidelined with a knee injury.
Ayase Ueda is listed as out with a foot problem, although some outlets still rate him as doubtful. Osame Sahraoui is also uncertain. Berke Ozer is expected in goal, with Giroud leading the line and Bakwa and Haraldsson on the flanks.
For Galatasaray, Rafael Leao misses out with a groin problem. Kaan Ayhan, Eyup Aydin, Kazimcan Karatas, Arda Unyay and Can Armando Guner are not on the UEFA list. Wilfried Singo is a doubt according to some outlets.
Okan Buruk should have Osimhen available, as his league booking does not carry over to European competition. Sane and Batrakov are expected to support the Nigerian.
Both teams arrive pointless with fragile defences, but Lille have home advantage, an in-form Giroud and opponents who have conceded seven goals in two games. Galatasaray have Osimhen and will find the net, so the contest should open up. We are leaning towards a narrow home victory.
Match odds
+18
▶New on YouTube · WerevertumorroREACCIONANDO A UN DIA CON EL CREW 5 - EN VIVOWatch video →