Molde take on the visitors Galatasaray in the first leg of UEFA Champions League qualification finals. The match will be played on Wednesday, August 23rd at Aker Stadion (Molde).
Molde focuses all its efforts on performing on the European stage. In 2022, MFK managed to outshine even Bodo/Glimt at the top of Norwegian club football. However, staying at the top didn't work out again. Moreover, now Viking are noticeably stronger as well, so the chances of contending for anything more than bronze on the domestic arena seem slim, and even in that competition, the team doesn't appear to be the favorite. Nevertheless, they will undoubtedly participate in the group stage of a European competition this fall; the only question is which one. The Norwegians performed well in the Champions League qualification, and they were fortunate with their opponents, facing neighbors. The scenario was identical both with HJK and Klaksvik: minimal losses away (0-1 in Finland, 1-2 in the Faroe Islands), followed by 2-0 victories at home, allowing them to progress.
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Galatasaray had an outstanding last season. The Blood and Gold tumbled to 13th place in the Turkish championship two seasons ago — an incredible slump for the title record holder. However, Okan Buruk quickly brought the team back on track. He had been a product of the club as a player and spent a significant part of his career there. As a result, they confidently recaptured the championship title, marking the 23rd in their history. Their intentions to continue this success were evident during the summer, as they actively attracted stars to Istanbul—new additions included Dervişoğlu, Angeliño, Bakambu, Zağa, Demirbay, Tete, and after the previous qualification round, Ziyeşha. The Turkish side easily cleared two rounds on their way to Norway: Žalgiris (2-2 in Vilnius, 1-0 at home) and Olimpija (3-0 in Ljubljana and 1-0 at home). However, it's worth noting that the Lions were considered favorites in both rounds on merit, and they remain so now.
Representatives from the northern and southern parts of the European continent will face each other for the first time. The star-studded guests from Istanbul are stronger and have shown excellent performance in this summer qualification. We recommend betting on the fact that Icardi and company will be able to secure a victory even in Norway.
Prediction for the match: Galatasaray to win.
