Galatasaray will aim to cement their position at the top of Europa League Group E when they welcome Lokomotiv Moscow to Turkey for Thursday's battle.

A Kerem Akturkoglu winner saw the Super Lig side prevail 1-0 during their matchday three clash with Lokomotiv, who are rooted to the bottom of the standings.

Match preview

Not one of the four sides in Group E has displayed any sort of clinical edge on the attacking front so far - with only six goals scored between them - but Galatasaray's admirable defensive resilience sees them lead the way at the midway point.

Akturkoglu struck the only goal of the game in the 82nd minute against Lokomotiv last time out as Galatasaray kept yet another clean sheet following their previous 1-0 success over Lazio and goalless stalemate away to Marseille - who they will take on again before the end of the month.

Seven points taken from a possible nine has seen Fatih Terim's side establish a three-point lead at the summit, and while they have only chalked up two goals so far - one of which was an own goal - they are one of only two sides in the group stage yet to concede, the other being West Ham United.

Galatasaray also head into this contest on the back of a comfortable 2-0 Super Lig triumph over Gaziantep courtesy of strikes from Akturkoglu and Olimpiu Morutan, and depending on what happens elsewhere, Terim's side - who have won their last three at home - could have guaranteed themselves a top-two finish by the close of play this week.

Markus Gidsol's first European game in charge of Lokomotiv was certainly a forgettable affair, and with only one point to show from three games, qualification for the knockout stages now seems a bit far-fetched for the Russian giants.

Second-placed Lazio and third-placed Marseille are only three and two points ahead of Lokomotiv respectively, so a top-two finish is not entirely out of the question, but Gisdol must inspire an immediate turnaround if his side's continental journey is to continue.

The 52-year-old does appear to have found the formula for success domestically, though, as Lokomotiv head into this contest on the back of consecutive 2-1 wins over Sochi and Nizhny Novgorod, with Rifat Zhemaletdinov and a last-minute own goal from Ivan Miladinovic helping them overcome the latter.

Lokomotiv could potentially rise to third place with their first Europa League win of the season - putting themselves in the frame for Europa Conference League football in the process - but a tally of one goal from three continental games does not exactly inspire confidence.

Team News

Galatasaray continue to cope without the injured Sacha Boey and Arda Turan, while Omar Elabdellaoui's absence guarantees a start for DeAndre Yedlin on the right-hand side of defence.

First-choice goalkeeper Fernando Muslera will miss the matchday five meeting with Marseille if he is carded here, but the 35-year-old is in no danger of losing his place this week.

Ex-Liverpool man Ryan Babel was given the nod from the first whistle against Lokomotiv in the 1-0 win, but Akturkoglu - who came off the bench to net the decisive goal - is surely in line for a start here.

As for Lokomotiv, Gisdol has a mini injury crisis to work around for Thursday's game, as Anton Miranchuk, Francois Kamano, Fedor Smolov and Murilo Cerqueira are all set to miss the contest.

Maciej Rybus is banned for his side's next league fixture but is fine to line up on the left-hand side here, while Alexis Beka Beka is one yellow card away from a continental suspension.

With the injured and ineligible Ze Luis also depleting Gisdol's attacking options, Gyrano Kerk ought to lead the line for the visitors this week.

Galatasaray possible starting lineup:
Muslera; Yedlin, Nelsson, Marcao, Van Aanholt; Antalyali, Kutlu; Akturkoglu, Morutan, Yilmaz; Mohamed

Lokomotiv Moscow possible starting lineup:
Guilherme; Zhivoglyadov, Pablo, Jedvaj, Rybus; Beka Beka, Barinov, Maradishvili; Anjorin, Kerk, Zhemaletdinov

We say: Galatasaray 2-1 Lokomotiv Moscow

Galatasaray's rock-solid rearguard has served them well in European competition so far, but Lokomotiv appear to be experiencing a much-needed case of new manager bounce under Gisdol.

However, the visitors' lengthy absentee list is set to harm them once again, and we expect Terim's side to all but guarantee their spot in the knockout rounds with a third win from four here.

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