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.