Sports Mole previews Thursday’s Women’s Champions League clash between Galatasaray Women and Roma Women, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Roma Women will travel to Turkey for Thursday’s Women’s Champions League meeting with Galatasaray Women at the Ataturk Olimpiyat Stadium.
The Italian champions took maximum points from their group opener against Wolfsburg, while Galatasaray fell to a defeat in their away clash with Lyon.
Match preview
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Galatasaray successfully navigated their way through qualifying to become the first Turkish team to reach the Women’s Champions League group stage.
The Turkish champions eliminated Racing Union and BIIK Shymkent, before they claimed an extra-time win in their two-legged tie against Slavia Prague to seal their spot in the group stage.
Unfortunately for Galatasaray, they were unable to take anything from their difficult group opener against record Women’s Champions League winners Lyon.
Kadidiatou Diani scored a brace alongside a Vanessa Gilles effort to condemn Galatasaray to a 3-0 defeat, ending their seven-game unbeaten start to the 2024-25 season.
They went on to fall to another defeat in Sunday’s derby clash against Fenerbahce, conceding two second-half goals to fall to a 2-0 away loss.
While they have lost back-to-back away games, Galatasaray have gone eight competitive home games without defeat since losing to Gaziantep Asya Spor in February.
Meanwhile, Roma are featuring in the group stage for the third consecutive season after seeing off Servette in Women’s Champions League qualifying.
After recording a 3-1 victory in the home leg, Roma went on to claim an impressive 7-2 win in Switzerland to seal their place in the main draw with minimum fuss.
The Giallorosse experienced more success in their group opener against Wolfsburg, with Manuela Giugliano scoring from the penalty spot to fire her side to a 1-0 home victory over the two-time European champions.
While they have impressed in Europe, Roma have experienced a disappointing start to their Serie A Femminile campaign, having won two, drawn three and lost one of their six matches.
Alessandro Spugna‘s fell to a 2-1 defeat in Sunday’s crucial league clash against leaders Juventus, with the result leaving them in fifth place and nine points adrift of top spot.
Roma will now put their domestic campaign on hold as they turn their focus back to Thursday’s European fixture, with the visitors looking to end a four-game winless away run in the Women’s Champions League main draw.
Galatasaray Women Women’s Champions League form:
Galatasaray Women form (all competitions):
Roma Women Women’s Champions League form:
Roma Women form (all competitions):
Team News
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Galatasaray defender Blessing Demehin could return to the backline after dropping out of the side at the weekend.
The 22-year-old defender could feature in a back four alongside Berna Yeniceri, Eda Karatas and Benan Altintas.
At the opposite end of the pitch, Andrea Staskova will continue to lead the Galatasaray line after scoring four goals in five European appearances this season.
As for Roma, they are unable to call upon goalkeeper Olivie Lukasova and defender Oihan Valdezate due to anterior cruciate ligament injuries.
Spugna is set to keep faith with a backline of Frederike Thogersen, Elena Linari, Moeka Minami and Lucia Di Guglielmo.
Canada international Evelyne Viens is set to spearhead the attack, with the striker looking to add to the five competitive goals she has scored this season.
Galatasaray Women possible starting lineup:
Yaman; Yeniceri, Karatas, Demehin, Altintas; Karabulut, Esen Ecem, Topcu, Bakarandze; Usme; Staskova
Roma Women possible starting lineup:
Ceasar; Thogersen, Linari, Minami, Di Guglielmo; Greggi, Kumagai, Guigliano; Haavi, Dragoni, Viens
We say: Galatasaray Women 1-2 Roma Women
Roma are struggling for consistency in domestic action, but they have won all three of their European matches this season, and we think they will draw upon their Women’s Champions League experience to claim a narrow victory in Thursday’s trip to Turkey.
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