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Galatasaray vs PSG UCL Matchday 2 Odds, Picks & Betting Preview

John Dillon

by John Dillon in Soccer News

Updated Apr 3, 2020 · 3:55 PM PDT

Thomas Tuchel is under pressure to improve Paris St. Germain's record in the UCL
Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel was given a huge boost when they opened their UCL campaign but now they must build on their impressive start when they travel to Turkey. Photo by Sandro Halank (Wiki Commons).
  • Super-rich French club humbled Real Madrid in opening Group A fixture
  • Pressure on PSG coach after seasons of under-achievement in Europe
  • Turkish champions held Brugge but are wide outsiders on Tuesday

Paris Saint-Germain will be hoping to capitalize on their magnificent start to their Champions League campaign when they meet Galatasaray in Group A on Tuesday.

The French giants humbled Real Madrid 3-0 in their opening fixture. Now they are favored to win in Istanbul at a price of -333 on October 1, at Ali Sami Yen Stadium at 3:00 pm EST.

The Turkish champions are rated as wide outsiders at +825 with the draw at +400. Galatasaray opened their campaign with a 0-0 draw away at Club Brugge in Belgium.

Galatasaray vs PSG UCL Matchday 2 Odds

Team Spread Money Line Odds Total
Galatasaray +1½ -103 +850 Ov 3 -116
Paris Saint-Germain -1½ -113 -333 Un 3 +100
Draw N/A +400 N/A

Odds taken at 2019/09/27.

PSG have consistently failed to punch their weight in the UCL despite their vast Qatari wealth and a glittering player roster which includes Brazilian superstar Neymar, French World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe and Uruguayan idol Edinson Cavani.

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Time to Make an Impact

The emphatic defeat of Real has kindled hopes in the French capital that this finally may be the season in which the team makes a proper impact in Europe’s elite competition.

They are well set up to underline that idea with a win by the Bosphorus although, at +400, perhaps the draw is the real value opportunity if Galatasaray repeats their dogged performance against Brugge.

However, PSG have shown unexpected signs of vulnerability in the early part of the domestic season.

This is PSG’S eighth successive UCL campaign. But they have failed to get past the last 16 in each of the past three seasons.

The 2-0 defeat by Reims in Ligue 1 on Wednesday was their second in seven league fixtures so far – although they still topped the table. They were also defeated 2-1 at Rennes in August.

Galatasaray vs PSG UCL 2019-20  Statistics

Galatasaray
VS
Paris Saint-Germain
0 Wins 1
0 Losses 0
1 Draws 0
0 Goals 3
10 Goal Attempts 9
80% Passing accuracy 88%
54% Possession 52%

This is PSG’S eighth successive UCL campaign. But they have failed to get past the last 16 in each of the past three seasons.

It is scant reward for a transfer outlay of more than £1 billion and the pressure is on coach Thomas Tuchel to deliver this time around. Previously, PSG were quarterfinalists four successive times.

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The victory against Real was achieved without Neymar, Mbappe and Cavani, with Angel Di Maria scoring twice. Neymar will again be suspended in Istanbul after insulting match officials last season.

No Lack of Resources

This suggests that PSG have the strength-in-depth to go far this season – although, honestly, they have hardly lacked for top-level resources in earlier seasons.

They have met Galatasaray twice before in European competition.

In the 1996-97 European Cup Winners Cup – now-defunct – Galatasaray won a second-round first leg tie at home 4-2. But they were eliminated by a 4-0 defeat in the return.

In the UCL’s second group stage in 2000-01, Galatasaray won 1-0 at home but was beaten 2-0 in France.

The Istanbul team sat seventh in Turkey’s Lig 1 after five fixtures – with two wins, two draws and one defeat.

The UEFA Cup final triumph against Arsenal in 2000 represents the only success by a Turkish club in European competition

Their most recent result was a 1-1 draw away at Yeni Malatyaspor on September 22.

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The UEFA Cup final triumph against Arsenal in 2000 represents the only success by a Turkish club in European competition.

They are also the only Turkish side to reach the semifinals of the UCL fore-runner, the European Cup – in 1989.

Their recent European form has been unimpressive.

After defeating Lokomotiv Moscow 3-0 at home in the opening group match last season, they collected only one more point in the remaining five fixtures.

That victory against the Russians is the only one in Galatasaray’s last 16 European outings.

Pick: Draw +400

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