The first leg of the 2025/26 Champions League round-of-16 tie between Galatasaray (Turkey) and Liverpool (England) will take place on 10 March at Rams Park in Istanbul. Galatasaray vs Liverpool: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Galatasaray
The Turkish club will feature in the round of 16 for the first time since the 2013/14 season. The Istanbul side reached this stage thanks to a victory over Juventus in the play-offs. In the first leg of the two-match tie, Galatasaray thrashed the Italians 5:2. In the return match, they lost by the same margin (0:3), but still went through after scoring two goals in extra time. Interestingly, the team have recorded just one win in their last six Champions League matches (one draw and four defeats). We should also note that in their last four European play-off ties against English opposition, the Turks have two wins and two defeats.
- No more than three goals were scored in normal time in six of Galatasaray's previous seven matches in this tournament.
- At least one of the sides failed to score in five of the Istanbul club's last seven Champions League games.
- The Turks have avoided defeat at home in nine of their previous 12 matches in this European competition (six wins and three draws).
Potential Galatasaray Lineup (4-2-3-1)
Ugurcan Cakir – Roland Sallai, Davinson Sanchez, Abdulkerim Bardakci, Evren Elmali – Lucas Torreira, Gabriel Sara – Noa Lang, Leroy Sane, Baris Yilmaz – Victor Osimhen.
Liverpool
The English side produced an excellent league phase, recording six wins and two defeats. As a result, the club finished third and advanced directly to the round of 16. What is more, Liverpool have won their last three matches in this tournament without conceding a single goal. For the Merseyside club, this will be their eighth appearance at this stage in the last nine Champions League campaigns. However, it is important to add that on the previous two occasions, they were knocked out at this point. Interestingly, Liverpool have previously contested three European play-off ties against Turkish teams and progressed twice.
- The team have won 14 of their last 18 Champions League matches (four defeats).
- At least one of the sides failed to score in five of Liverpool's previous seven games in this tournament.
- The English side have won six of their last eight away matches in this European competition (two defeats).
Potential Liverpool Lineup (4-2-3-1)
Alisson – Milos Kerkez, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez – Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch – Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah – Hugo Ekitike.
Defender Conor Bradley, midfielder Wataru Endo and striker Alexander Isak are injured.
Referee
Jesus Gil Manzano (Spain)
Matches – 6 (international fixtures, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 18;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.0;
Red cards shown – 3;
Fouls per match on average – 21;
Penalties – 10%.
Galatasaray vs Liverpool: Match Prediction
The Istanbul side have played five home matches in Europe this season, winning three, drawing one and losing one. Interestingly, the very first home match of this Champions League campaign for the Turks came against Liverpool, and they beat them 1:0. In addition, Galatasaray have previously hosted this opponent twice more in this tournament and also avoided defeat (one win and one draw). It is also worth adding that in this century these teams have faced each other five times in the Champions League, and only once have the English side come out on top, with that victory coming by a one-goal margin.
We expect the Turks to avoid defeat again, or at least to avoid a heavy loss. The team have an excellent record against Premier League opponents at their own stadium in European competition, suffering just one defeat in their last nine such matches (five wins and three draws). Meanwhile, Liverpool have just one win in their last seven visits to Turkish teams in European competition (one draw and five defeats). We should also add that in six of Liverpool's last eight away matches in the Champions League, they have not won by more than one goal.
Prediction: Galatasaray (+1)
