Manchester City look to secure a top-eight finish as they meet Galatasaray in a tough final league-phase game in 2025-26 UEFA Champions League.
Sat 11th heading into their final game and locked on 13 points alongside seven other clubs, Man City simply must win and hope results elsewhere go against them if they’re to secure a top-eight finish.
Galatasaray meanwhile can secure a seeded knockout play-off spot with a win if any of Inter Milan, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund slip up, whilst a draw would be enough if Dortmund were to suffer a heavy loss to Inter Milan of four goals or more.
Team News
Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo are ineligible for Man City, who otherwise have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 2-0 Premier League victory against Wolves.
Oscar Bobb, Ruben Dias (both hamstring), Josko Gvardiol (leg), John Stones (thigh), Nicolas Gonzalez (knock), Mateo Kovacic (foot) and Savinho (calf) remain sidelined.
Galatasaray will be without defender, Metehan Baltaci due to suspension.
Victor Osimhen is back from the Africa Cup of Nations and available for selection, whilst Gabriel Sara is ruled out with a knee injury.
When is Kick-Off?
Man City host Galatasaray at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday 28 January at 8pm GMT, live on TNT Sports 6 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- This is Man City’s first-ever meeting against Galatasaray.
- Galatasaray are making their first competitive visit to Man City’s Etihad Stadium.
- Man City are yet to defeat Turkish opposition in all UEFA competitions.
- Erling Haaland has scored in two of City’s three home games in this season’s League Phase (W2, L1).
- Galatasaray have won one of their three away league-phase fixtures this season (W1, L2).
Prediction
Having rested Erling Haaland against Wolves, City manager – Pep Guardiola has a decision to make on whether he puts his out-of-form striker back into the starting line-up or stick with the team which clinically dispatched Wolves, especially as this is an absolute must-win if want to avoid the knockout play-offs.
Galatasaray meanwhile have failed to score in two of their last three league phase matches (D1, L2) so face a tricky test against City who have plenty of goalscoring threats, but this is winnable if they can find a way to target City’s vulnerable defence.
Nevertheless there is a lot at stake for both clubs so I expect a tough game but City’s quality should see them through to the win.
Prediction: Man City 2-1 Galatasaray
Result: Man City 2-0 Galatasaray
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