Galatasaray will face AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League play-off round, aiming to gain an advantage before the return match. The match will take place in the Netherlands, kicking off at 11:00 p.m. (Türkiye time).
The Turkish side will be missing key players due to suspensions and injuries. Osimhen, Torreira, and Sanchez are suspended, while Yunus, Jakobs, and Icardi are sidelined due to injuries. Additionally, newly signed players Mario Lemina, Frankowski, and Eren Elmali are not included in the UEFA squad list.
Portuguese referee Joao Pinheiro will officiate the match.
Having finished 14th in the new 36-team league stage format of the tournament, Galatasaray secured a playoff spot with three wins, four draws, and one loss in eight matches.
This will be the second time these two teams face each other this season. In the group stage, they played to a 1-1 draw on November 28, 2024, at AFAS Stadium.
AZ Alkmaar remains unbeaten against Turkish clubs in UEFA competitions, adding an extra challenge for Galatasaray as they seek to make history.
AZ Alkmaar’s home ground, AFAS Stadium, was opened in 2006 and has played a crucial role in the club’s rise. Initially built with a capacity of approximately 17,000, the stadium underwent renovations after part of its roof collapsed in 2019. It was later expanded to hold around 20,000 spectators.
The alkmaar: Owusu-modeo, kasius, goes, penetra, moller wolfe, koopmeiners, classie, mijnans, addai, parrott, lahdo
Galatasaray: Muslera, Cuesta, Abdulkerim, Berkan, Sallai, Kaan, Sara, Jerert, Mertens, Baris Alper, Morata
The second leg of the tie will be played at RAMS Park on Feb. 20, kicking off at 8:45 p.m.(Türkiye Time).
