On Thursday, starting with 19:00, the Galatasaray – Hajduk Split match will be played, within the 3rd preliminary round of the Europa League. The two teams have never met in European competitions, thus being a duel for the first time. The winner of this preliminary round will meet in the Europa League play-off the one between Willem II and Rangers.
Galatasaray started in the new season of the Super League with two convincing victories, 3-1 with Gaziantep (Marius Sumudica’s team) and 2-0 with Basakserhir (the defending champion of Turkey). In the 2nd preliminary round of the Europa League, Fatih Terim’s students beat the Azerbaijani team Neftci Baku, after a 3-1 away success. In the current Europa League formula, the “cimbom” team qualified once more in the group stage, in the 2009/2010 season.
Hajduk Split played in the 2nd preliminary round in a trip from Macedonia, winning 1-0 on Renova’s field. In the domestic championship, the team with 6 titles of champion of Croatia comes after a defeat at home with the rival Dinamo Zagreb, score 1-2. After 4 stages, Hajduk Split obtained 7 points and is ranked third. Like Thursday’s opponent, the Croatian group participated once more in the Europa League groups, in 2010/2011, after eliminating Unirea Urziceni in the playoffs.
The fact that the dispute is scheduled in Istanbul places Galatasaray as the big favorite to qualify for the playoffs. The “cimbom” band is also able to get past Hajduk Split, but the Croatians will sell their skin on “Ali Sami Yen”.
-Galatasaray won 22 Turkish championship titles (a record);
-The “cimbom” team won the UEFA Cup and the European Super Cup in 2000;
-Hajduk Split has won 6 titles of champion of Croatia;
-Croatians participated only once in Europa League groups (2010/2011);
PREDICTION: Galatasaray to win @ 1,56
