The return of the Champions League on Tuesday featuring Europe’s finest and it promises to be bigger and better than ever before.
The talent on display at Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, in particular, is bewitching and the outright market strongly suggests one of that illustrious trio will be lifting the famous trophy next spring once again.
Each has tasted glory once in the previous three seasons but while it is unlikely the winner this time around will feature in the match in Istanbul on match day one, the fixture does offer the best betting opportunity.
Galatasaray have been competing at this level regularly over the past two decades and the Turkish side made the last 16 in February, beaten 3-1 by Chelsea on aggregate.
That wasn’t before the Super Lig outfit had ousted Juventus in dramatic fashion however, qualifying along with the eventual champions Real Madrid, and their home record is exceptional.
Juve, Manchester United and Real themselves have all been beaten at the Turk Telekom Arena in recent years and it is just three defeats in 16 Champions League home matches for Cesare Prandelli’s side.
The Italian replaced fellow countryman Roberto Mancini in the hot seat in July and Galatasaray already sit top of the early Super Lig standings.
The Turks face an Anderlecht side that also head their domestic league, two points ahead of Gent after seven Pro League matches. However, Bensik Hasi’s men struggle on the road, especially in Europe, and I don’t expect them to trouble their upcoming opponents.
Remarkably Anderlecht have just two Champions League away victories to their name, at PSV in 2000 and in Betis five years later, and it is three consecutive 2-2 draws in Belgium at present too.
I rate Galatasaray significantly the better side of the pair and, with such fervent support to suck the ball into the home net, they should be backed at around the 3/4 mark.
The selection won 13 of their 17 domestic matches when entertaining last term and can nearly always be relied upon to give their true running at the famous stadium.
3pts Back Galatasaray (vs. Anderlecht) @ 3/4 (various)