Ajax vs Galatasaray Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
by Alex Lawes ·
Updated
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It is not the Ajax of the past, or perhaps even the recent past, as the Dutch giants welcome a strong and entertaining Galatasaray side to Amsterdam this weekend.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+
Ajax preview: Underwhelming Ajax
Ajax come into this one on the back of a 1-1 draw with Heerenveen at the Johan Cruyff Arena at the weekend. That leaves them fourth in the Eredivisie and they sit eight points behind league leaders Feyenoord with just five victories in their 11 matches.
In the league phase of the UEFA Champions League thus far Ajax have started with three defeats from three. They were beaten 2-0 by Internazionale in the Netherlands before hammerings at the hands of Olympique de Marseille and Chelsea.
Galatasaray preview: Entertaining Gala
Turkish giants Galatasaray have been very impressive in recent seasons and the Turkish champions will believe they can push for the knockouts of the UEFA Champions League, whilst remaining at the top-of-the-table in the Super Lig.
Gala began their UEFA Champions League campaign with a 5-1 annihilation at the hands of Eintracht Frankfurt before then enjoying back-to-back victories in Istanbul against Liverpool and then Bodo/Glimt.
Ajax team news: Taylor suspended
Having been sent off against Chelsea, Kenneth Taylor is now missing through suspension for Ajax, whilst key men such as Steven Berghuis and Kasper Dolberg are also unavailable.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Pasveer; Gaaei, Itakura, Baas, Wijndal; Klaassen, Gloukh, Regeer; Moro, Weghorst, Godts
Unavailable: Van den Boomen (Injured), Taylor (Suspended), Berghuis (Injured), Dolberg (Illness)
Questionable:
Galatasaray team news: Couple of doubts
Galatasaray are dealing with a couple of injury doubts for this one as Wilfried Singo and Yunus Akgun are potentially sidelined, whilst Ilkay Gundogan is missing due to a thigh strain.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Cakir; Sallai, Sanchez, Bardakci, Jakobs; Torreira, Lemina; Sane, Sara, Yilmaz; Osimhen
Unavailable: Gundogan (Injured)
Questionable: Singo (Injured), Akgun (Injured)
Ajax vs Galatasaray prediction
Ajax head into this one as one of the weaker sides in the competition at the moment. They also have quite a limited squad and the pressure is growing on manager Johnny Heitinga. Galatasaray head to Amsterdam with an impressive and attacking style of football, as well as a lot of quality depth, and they would have to be viewed as the favourites for this one at the Johann Cruyff Arena.
Ajax vs Galatasaray Tip: Galatasaray to win
