Champions League, Wednesday, 21.08.2024 at 21:00
I didn’t have to look far for the odds for this match. I already had the perfect combination in my head and it still brings with it a height worth seeing. Betano’s strong over-goal odds also help.
The Champions League play-off first leg will see the champions of Switzerland and Turkey face off. Which nation’s champion will be allowed to compete in the international premier class will be decided in the next few days.
Bern kicks off with its home game. In my Young Boys Galatasaray tip, however, I doubt that they will be able to create a good starting position in their own living room. I have the “Double Chance X2” with over 1.5 goals in focus.
Did you know that the champions of your country have met before? Even if only in a friendly tournament. The teams drew in the 2016 Watch Cup. The only match so far ended 1:1.
There is much more at stake in the Champions League play-offs. The loser of the first and second legs will progress to the Europa League group stage. In my eyes, that should be Young Boys
The bookmakers’ prediction
The 1.17 in the “Who will qualify?” market for Galatasaray says a lot. The Turkish club starts as the clear favorite in this matchup, Bern is already considered a big underdog at 4.60.
In the first leg, things look different for the top betting providers. The stake is almost doubled with a bet on Gala (1.83), Bern gets a 4.25. Istanbul are not even dependent on a win. A draw would already help them ahead of the upcoming second leg at home
Analysis: Young Boys vs. Galatasaray
However, that is not the style of play of the team that finished third behind Bayern and Copenhagen in the last Champions League season, but at least stayed ahead of the Reds from Manchester United.
The 2001 UEFA Super Cup winners remained unbeaten against the mega-club from England. In the Europa League, they were then eliminated in the intermediate round against Sparta Prague. Internationally, there were plenty of chances.
There were 23 goals in the Champions League group stage alone and ten goals in two matches against Sparta Prague. First and second leg. In the league, it was enough to win the title after an absolute top fight with Fenerbahce. 102 points were collected, 33 wins from 38 games
And the start to the new season has also been a success. Alongside Besiktas, Galatasaray is the only club to pick up six points from its first two games, a 2-1 win against Hatayaspor and Konyaspor respectively.
On the first matchday, they scored 36 goals! The season began with a damper, with city rivals Besiktas giving Galatasaray a 5-0 thrashing in the Super Cup. Including preparation, Galatasaray have not won any of their eight games
Odds analysis
One of the reasons why I’m not going straight for the away win against Bern. Istanbul are superior to Bern in terms of form and squad quality, but their defense is shaky and a draw would already be a good starting point to make everything clear in the home cauldron.
At league level, the 24-time champions of Turkey have 18 wins from 19 games. However, Spor Kulübü are not the record champions. Fenerbahce have four more Turkish handle pots in their trophy collection.
Instead of the win bet for the Mauro Icardi club, I’m going for the “Double Chance X2”, which is only lucrative in terms of the odds with an over-goal rate in combination. With “Over 1.5 goals” as a supplement, I get 1.57.
In view of the last European season, the “Over 2.5” variant at an even 2.00 is also tasty. I’ll tell you why I’m ruling out the Bern victory in the next few lines:
Total false start for the Young Boys
Under new head coach Patrick Rahmen, the start to the season has been a complete failure. The team, which has won six of the last seven championships, is still without a win after five games.
With two points to their name, the men in the yellow and black jerseys are in second-last place. Only Grasshoppers have collected one point less. Alongside Servette Geneva, Bern is the league’s shooting gallery with 13 goals conceded.
It started with a 1:2 against Sion, followed by a 1:3 against Geneva, 0:4 against St. Gallen and the first two points were collected after two draws against FC Zurich and Yverdon (2:2).
Goal for both teams a great alternative odds
Some new names have been added, especially in defense. The team has not yet found its feet. At least they were able to record another win against amateur club Printse-Nendaz, a 10-0 victory in the cup.
In order to have fresh legs for the trip to Istanbul, Bern have been given a break between the first and second legs by the league association. But even without a break, it will be hard enough to slow down Gala’s star attack.
As already mentioned, Galatasaray’s defense is not in top form either. Among other things, they will have to make do without Davinson Sanchez and Derrick Köhn.
The goal for both teams is therefore also worth considering. Especially as Bern are doomed to go ahead at home. A 1.65 is waiting for this bet
At Betano, the odds are exactly enough to wager the new customer bonus. Your first deposit will be doubled up to 80 euros. With the 20 euro free bet for verification, you can already start betting without topping up your account
Galatasaray and Bern had the same course on the international stage last season. Bern also failed to reach the Champions League group stage in third place, while Manchester City and RB Leipzig were far ahead of them.
In the intermediate round, Sporting Lisbon were then a size too big. The Young Boys were already defeated 3:1 in the first leg at home
My YB Gala tip:
Young Boys are still without a win in the domestic league after five games, conceding at least two goals in every match. Galatasaray are another tough opponent in the Champions League play-offs.
The Turkish champions celebrated two wins to kick off the Süper Lig and picked up where they left off last year. Only their own defense is lacking from time to time. Head coach Okan Buruk is missing a few important names.
Bern will try to capitalize on this. The visitors have the much better footballing personnel, are in better form, play offensively and are accurate.
Including test matches, at least two goals have been scored in 14 of the last 15 Gala games. A draw should at least be in the cards for the Turks.
My Young Boys Galatasaray prediction: Double chance X2 & Over 1.5 goals!
