As these tragedies unfold, Tottenham Hotspur are focusing on their upcoming Europa League match against Galatasaray in Turkey. Spurs have been in excellent form in the competition, winning all three of their previous group-stage matches, and they will look to extend that winning streak when they travel to Istanbul on Thursday. Their last Europa League victory came in late October against AZ Alkmaar, with Richarlison’s solitary goal securing the win for manager Ange Postecoglou’s side. Tottenham’s momentum continued in the Premier League with a convincing 4-1 victory over Aston Villa. This result has placed Spurs seventh in the Premier League, just nine points behind league leaders Liverpool. Despite being slightly off the pace in the league, their European form has given fans plenty to cheer about.
Galatasaray, their opponents on Thursday, have been performing well in the Turkish Super Lig, sitting at the top of the table with 28 points from 10 matches. Much of their success this season can be attributed to on-loan striker Victor Osimhen, who has been in superb form, scoring four goals and contributing two assists since joining the club in the summer. Osimhen has been linked with a move to top Premier League clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal, but for now, he remains a key figure in Galatasaray’s quest for glory. The Turkish side, however, will not be taking the challenge lightly, and Tottenham will need to be at their best if they are to secure all three points and keep their perfect record intact in the Europa League group stage.
Tottenham’s preparations for the match have been hampered by several injury concerns. Centre-back Micky van de Ven will miss the game due to a thigh injury sustained in Spurs’ 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Manchester City. The injury is not expected to be long-term, but manager Postecoglou has indicated that Van de Ven will likely be sidelined until after the international break. In addition, midfielder Wilson Odobert is also unavailable for the match, as he is still recovering from a thigh injury that he aggravated in late October. Odobert’s return date remains uncertain, but Tottenham will be hoping for a swift recovery.
Richarlison, who scored the decisive goal in Spurs’ last Europa League match, is also a doubt for the Galatasaray clash. The Brazilian forward has been dealing with a minor hamstring issue since his goal against Aston Villa, and while Postecoglou has not ruled him out entirely, his availability will depend on how he recovers in the coming days. Spurs may also see the return of defender Djed Spence, who has been sidelined with a groin injury for several weeks. While Spence is unlikely to feature against Galatasaray, he could make his comeback next weekend when Tottenham face Ipswich Town in the Premier League.
Finally, centre-back Cristian Romero, who was forced off during the Aston Villa match with an ankle issue, is another player whose fitness will be monitored ahead of the Europa League clash. It is still unclear how long he will be sidelined, but Tottenham will hope that Romero’s injury is not serious and that he will be available for future matches.
On the other side, Galatasaray also have their injury concerns. Left-back Ismail Jakobs has been out of action since mid-October due to a muscle strain, which has caused him to miss the last five matches. However, it is not believed to be a major injury, and Jakobs may be in line to return against Tottenham, although his appearance could be delayed until the following weekend when Galatasaray face Samsunspor in the Turkish league.
As the two teams prepare to face off, Tottenham’s injury issues could play a crucial role in the outcome of the match. However, Postecoglou will be hoping that his squad can overcome these challenges and continue their winning ways in Europe, while Galatasaray will be looking to prove that they are worthy contenders both domestically and internationally.
