Galatasaray vs Real Madrid UCL Matchday 3 Odds, Picks & Betting Preview
- Spanish giants have made unfamiliar stumble in Europe
- Turkish champions have won only once in 17 European ties
- Both sides were beaten by Paris Saint-Germain
Real Madrid are bottom of Group A in the Champions League and desperately need a win away at Galatasaray on Tuesday.
They have only one point. However, the Turkish side also have only one point and are in equally dire need of a victory in Istanbul on October 22, at Ali Sami Yen Stadium, at 3:00 pm EST.
Oddsmakers favor Real for a win at -169 with third-placed Galatasaray at a wide +420.
UCL Group A Galatasaray vs Real Madrid Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galatasaray | +1 – 116 | +420 | Ov2½, 3 -124 |
| Real Madrid | -1 +100 | -169 | Un2½,3 +108 |
| Draw | N/A | +300 | N/A |
Odds taken at 2019/10/17.
Neither team has won yet in European competition this season. However, Real are flying high domestically and are top of Spain’s La Liga after five wins and three draws.
The Spanish giants’ confidence at home must translate into an improvement in Europe at some point and this looks the most likely occasion. However, the draw offers interesting value at +300, with Galatasaray having conceded only seven goals all season so far.
Struggling in Turkish Super Lig
Galatasaray – the reigning Turkish champions – are not performing so well at home and are in 10th place in their homeland’s Super Lig after winning just twice in seven fixtures, with four draws and one defeat
They have also failed to win in their last five matches in all competitions. They have recorded only one victory in their last 17 European fixtures.
They are third in Group A by virtue of their goal difference of minus one compared to Real’s minus three.
Wake up. ☀️
Train. ⚽️
Rest. ?
Repeat. ?
1️⃣ training left to come back home! ? pic.twitter.com/KHfxyZtYQg
— Galatasaray EN (@Galatasaray) October 16, 2019
Real ended a brief run of two matches without a win in both competitions with a 4-2 home defeat of Granada in La Liga on October 5.
There have been seven previous matches between the two sides with Real winning four times and Galatasaray three times.
The Madrid side suffered a stunning 3-0 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain in their opening UCL game. They then lived dangerously at home against Club Brugge before recovering from two goals down to draw 2-2.
Galatasaray drew 0-0 with Brugge in Belgium before being beaten 1-0 at home by PSG.
There have been seven previous matches between the two sides with Real winning four times and Galatasaray three times.
There was a 6-1 victory for Real in Turkey in 2013 in which Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick and Karim Benzema got two goals, with Isco making up the tally.
Six Strikes for Benzema
Frenchman Benzema has been in fine goalscoring form in Spain this season with six goals in La Liga, although he has not found the target in the UCL.
The new £80 million signing from Chelsea, Eden Hazard, is still adapting to life at his new club and has scored only once in the league so far.
Real Madrid medical team carried out further tests on Gareth Bale yesterday and the news is not too positive following his injury against Croatia – he will miss the Mallorca game and is a big doubt for the Champions League game vs Galatasaray. [@diarioas] pic.twitter.com/qnb6A8FmkQ
— Infinite Madrid (@InfiniteMadrid) October 17, 2019
Real have won the European Cup/Champions League a record 14 times but their fortunes have nose-dived during the past two seasons.
UCL 2019-20 Galatasaray vs Real Madrid Statistics
| 0 | Wins | 0 |
| 1 | Losses | 1 |
| 1 | Draws | 1 |
| 0 | Goals | 2 |
| 17 | Goal Attempts | 37 |
| 79% | Passing accuracy | 87% |
| 51% | Possession | 58% |
After triumphs in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018, last season was the first since 2009/ 10 in which they failed to at least reach the semifinals.
Galatasaray have scored only six times in the Super Lig this season but have conceded only six times.
?♂ How may we assist you?
⚽ Nine players have provided assists so far this season. Watch them all!
? https://t.co/fFZ35WnFZf#HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/wEDuhoBNH1— Real Madrid C.F. ???? (@realmadriden) October 16, 2019
Meanwhile, Real have not won in three successive European matches – the first time this has happened since the fall of 2012.
Galatasaray have scored only six times in the Super Lig this season but have conceded only six times.
They have hit the target only once in their last five matches in both competitions. Their most recent senior result was a 0-0 draw away at Genclerberligi on October 5.
Pick: Draw +300
John Dillon is a leading member of the UK's sporting media, having spent three decades as a national newspaper soccer and sports writer, broadcaster and author. He has covered five World Cups, six European Championships and was Chief Sports Writer at the Daily Express for 14 years.
