O. Ljubljana vs Galatasaray Prediction & Betting Tips - Champions League

Prediction published on 06/08/2023, 14:40  by Devesh Jaganath in Champions League Predictions

Olimpija will play host to Galatasaray in the first leg of the third qualifying round in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. The hosts overcame Ludogorets in the second round of qualifiers 3-2 on aggregate and 4-2 on aggregate over Valmeira in the first round. Olimpija won the Prva Liga last season for the first time since the 2017-18 season with 73 points, which was six ahead of Celje in second place. The hosts lost the last three games of last season, but they had already wrapped up the league title before that period. After two matches this term, they lost their opening match to Koper but bounced back with an impressive 5-0 win over Rogaska last weekend, leaving them in sixth place. Olimpija won both their home matches in this competition in the previous rounds and are unbeaten in their last three matches at Stadion Stozice. This will be by far their biggest test in the competition, and they are currently 5/1 outsiders to get a first-leg win. 

Meanwhile, Galatasaray will be looking to return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2019-20 season when they were knocked out in the group stages. The visitors won the Super Lig last season with 88 points, eight clear of Fenerbahce, and ended the season on a six-match winning streak. Over the course of the season, they lost just four of their 36 matches while winning 28 and drawing four. Galatasaray drew their only previous away match in this competition and are unbeaten in their last four matches on the road in competitive matches with three wins and a draw. In the preseason, Gala have played four matches, winning one, drawing one, and losing two. Still, they will be heavily backed to take a first-leg lead and go on to reach the playoffs.