Molde vs. Galatasaray - Match Preview, Team News and Kick-off

 After dashing KI Klaksvik's hopes in the Champions League earlier this month, Molde now face a tougher challenge as they square off against the Turkish champions, Galatasaray, in the first leg of their qualifying playoff-round tie on Wednesday.

Erling Moe's squad triumphed over KI with a 3-2 aggregate score, advancing to the final stage. Meanwhile, the guests at Aker Stadion defeated Olimpija Ljubljana with a decisive 4-0 aggregate over two matches.

In a similar situation to their second-round qualification match against HJK Helsinki, Molde made a comeback from a first-leg shortfall to halt Faroe Islands pioneers KI, even though it took a significant effort to shatter the underdogs' continental dream.



Molde vs. Galatasaray - Match Preview

KI had already set a record as the first Faroe Islands team to reach the third round of Champions League qualifying, ensuring at least a spot in the Europa Conference League group stage. They took Molde by surprise with a 2-1 victory in the first leg. However, an early goal by Kristian Eriksen in the following week's match pushed the game into an extra 30 minutes.

KI seemed poised to push the contest to a nail-biting penalty shootout. Yet, at the 112-minute mark, Martin Linnes scored again for Molde, letting the Norwegian champions inch their way into the playoff round.

In a parallel scenario, Galatasaray struggled to assert dominance upon re-entering the Champions League preliminary stages. Under Okan Buruk's leadership, they narrowly defeated Zalgiris with a 3-2 aggregate in the second round but found an easier path against Olimpija Ljubljana in the subsequent rounds.

Their decisive 3-0 win on Slovenian ground essentially secured Galatasaray's position in the playoff round even before last Tuesday's rematch in Istanbul. There, Mauro Icardi's lone goal ensured victory for the 10-man Turkish champions, despite Lucas Torreira's red card, marking their third consecutive Champions League win.

Defensive prowess has been Galatasaray's hallmark since their initial 2-2 draw with Zalgiris. This was evident as they kickstarted their Super Lig campaign on their second attempt this past Saturday, with Icardi's double sealing a 2-0 triumph over Trabzonspor.

Team News

During their recent match against Valerenga, which ended in a 0-0 draw, Molde's centre-back Eirik Haugan received a red card after accumulating two yellow cards, the second for dissent deep into added time. However, this ejection won't affect his eligibility for European matches.

Molde's recent games haven't presented any notable fitness issues. Still, following the exhausting 120-minute match against KI, Moe understandably made some changes for the weekend game. Linnes, who shined during the extra-time, was rested on the bench.

Linnes, playing as a right-wing back, is anticipated to reclaim his usual position in the team's 3-5-2 formation for the upcoming game. The same is expected for Ola Brynhildsen and Magnus Wolff Eikrem in the attacking sector.

Due to his direct red card during the match with Olimpija, former Arsenal midfielder, Torreira, will be suspended for Wednesday's game. This provides an opportunity for either Kerem Demirbay, Sergio Oliveira, or both to step in.

On the topic of former Premier League talents, Wilfried Zaha's participation in the first leg is uncertain due to a foot injury from the previous European match, causing him to miss the game against Trabzonspor. Moreover, centre-back Emin Bayram also left the field during the last 12 minutes of the same match.

If Zaha isn't fit to play, the lineup supporting the in-form Icardi is likely to remain consistent, with Kerem Akturkoglou, Baris Yilmaz, and Dries Mertens starting, ensuring Cedric Bakambu remains sidelined for now.

Probable XI (Molde): Karlstrom; Bjornbak, Ellingsen, Haugan; Linnes, Mannsverk, Breivik, Eriksen, Haugen; Eikrem, Brynhildsen.

Probable XI (Galatasaray): Muslera; Boey, Nelsson, Ayhan, Angelino; Kutlu, Oliveira; Yilmaz, Mertens, Akturkoglu; Icardi.