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Türkiye's reigning champion Galatasaray will face French club AS Monaco on Tuesday in an away fixture during the sixth matchday of the UEFA Champions League league phase, a vital match for the Istanbul side to secure its spot in the last 16.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 11.00 p.m. Istanbul time (GMT+3) on Tuesday at Stade Louis II, located in the Principality of Monaco on the Mediterranean coast of France. The game will be officiated by Danny Makkelie from the Netherlands, with Hessel Steegstra and Jan de Vries as assistant referees. Allard Lindhout will serve as the fourth official, while the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) role will be handled by Belgium’s Bram Van Driessche.
The match against Monaco will mark Galatasaray’s 334th appearance in European competition. The club has recorded 119 victories, 125 defeats, and 89 draws across its history in continental tournaments. Over these matches, Galatasaray has scored 459 goals and conceded 505.
Heading into the sixth week of league-phase competition, Galatasaray holds 9 points from five matches, ranking 14th overall.
The Lions started their campaign with a 5-1 away loss to Germany’s Eintracht Frankfurt but quickly bounced back with three consecutive victories: 1-0 against Liverpool, 3-1 over Bodo/Glimt, and 3-0 away to Ajax. However, the club suffered a setback in the fifth week with a 1-0 home defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise of Belgium.
Despite the loss, Galatasaray remains firmly in the race for advancement with three wins and two losses so far, and securing a result against Monaco could be critical to maintaining their position in the upper tier of the standings.
AS Monaco has experienced inconsistent form this season under Belgian head coach Sebastien Pocognoli. In France’s Ligue 1, Monaco has registered seven wins, two draws, and six losses across 15 matches, currently sitting in 7th place with 25 points, 11 points behind league leaders Lens. The team has only managed one victory in its last five domestic outings.
In Champions League play, Monaco’s performance has also been mixed. The French side began with a 4-1 defeat to Club Brugge, followed by draws against Manchester City (2-2) and Tottenham Hotspur (0-0). A 1-0 win over Bodo/Glimt in the fourth week marked their sole victory, but a 2-2 draw with Cyprus-based Pafos in the fifth match resulted in a missed opportunity to climb the table.
Monaco enters the sixth week with 6 points, currently positioned 23rd in the group stage rankings.
Galatasaray will travel without several important players due to injuries, suspensions, and eligibility issues. Wilfried Singo, Ismail Jakobs, and Kaan Ayhan are sidelined with injuries, while Arda Unyay is serving a suspension following a red card in the previous match.
Additionally, Eren Elmali and Metehan Baltaci will miss the match due to disciplinary measures linked to an ongoing domestic betting investigation. Kazimcan Karatas, who is not registered on Galatasaray’s UEFA squad list, is also ineligible for the fixture.
Following the Monaco match, Galatasaray will host Spanish side Atletico Madrid before traveling to face English club Manchester City, both considered among the toughest opponents in the tournament.
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