Galatasaray are continuing their preparations for the new season with squad problems, struggling against the intense pressing of Italian clubs. Fired up by an extensive transfer campaign and two heavy wins at the start of pre-season, Venezia are capable of imposing their style of play on Galatasaray.
Galatasaray
Galatasaray are holding their pre-season camp with an experimental squad: the internationals (Leroy Sané, Barış Alper Yılmaz, Yunus Akgün, Abdülkerim Bardakcı) have only just returned from their holidays, and their main defender Davinson Sánchez is currently unavailable. As a result, they have lost 0:2 to AC Monza, conceding dangerous attacks after losing the ball under pressure, and across two summer matches they have conceded three goals (including a 5:1 win over Ümraniyespor). However, the return of first-choice goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır and the appearance of Victor Osimhen in the starting XI should give them more threat in the final third.
Venezia
Under Giovanni Stroppa, Venezia have returned to the Serie A and carried out a strong transfer campaign: for €16 million they bought Akor Adams, who scored 10 goals in La Liga, added Albion Rrahmani, and strengthened the flanks with Thierry Correia from Valencia. In pre-season they have shown excellent attacking output, scoring 12 goals in two friendlies against Dolomiti Bellunesi (4:2) and Vis Pesaro 1898 (8:0). Their well-drilled high press makes them a very dangerous test for opponents with an uncoordinated defence.
Galatasaray vs Venezia Prediction
This match is stylistically very similar to Galatasaray’s recent game against AC Monza. Without their key defenders, they commit major errors under opposition pressure, while Venezia base their football on aggressive ball-winning and quick vertical attacks. Given Venezia's 12 goals in two friendlies and the suboptimal condition of Galatasaray’s key players, we expect both teams to score in a high-scoring match.
