Galatasaray will hope to move away from the relegation zone when they travel to Bahcesehir Okullari Stadium for a Turkish Super Lig fixture with Alanyaspor.
The hosts, meanwhile, will be aiming to extend their unbeaten run to seven games in all competitions on Sunday.
Match preview
Alanyaspor ended 2021 in eighth position, but having picked up 10 points from their four league games in the current calendar year, they find themselves in third place.
Following the international break, Sunday's hosts will hope that they can pick up from where they left off after winning their last three games.
Their most recent fixture took them to the Cotanak Stadium for an encounter with Giresunspor, and a brace from Emre Akbaba coupled with a Davidson effort helped Alanyaspor to a 3-1 victory.
They return to the Bahcesehir Okullari Stadium for Sunday's fixture and will be aiming to continue their impressive home form after avoiding defeat in their last four home games in all competitions.
Having failed to score in just one home league match this term, the hosts will be confident of troubling the Galatasaray backline, especially as they have scored 13 goals in their previous four competitive home matches.
The visitors, meanwhile, dismissed Fatih Terim on January 10 after a run of results that brought about one victory in nine games in all competitions.
Domenec Torrent was announced as Terim's replacement, but his arrival has not resulted in a change in fortunes with the new boss losing his first three games in charge.
Despite Alexandru Cicaldau scoring from the spot to give his side the lead in their most recent outing, Trabzonspor still condemned Torrent's side to a 2-1 defeat courtesy of goals from Anastasios Bakasetas and Edin Visca.
Galatasaray now find themselves three points clear of safety and in desperate need of points after losing their last four Turkish Super Lig encounters.
The visitors will hope that they can replicate the 1-0 away victory they achieved over Alanyaspor last season, but two away league victories this term suggests that may be a tough ask.
- L
- D
- D
- W
- W
- W
- D
- W
- D
- W
- W
- W
- L
- W
- L
- L
- L
- L
- L
- L
- L
- L
- L
- L
Team News
The hosts are missing Famara Diedhiou, who is expected to feature for Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday, although they do welcome back Chidozie Awaziem from international duty with Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Tayfur Bingol is suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
Akbaba will look to continue to provide the goals from midfield after scoring six times in his last three games.
As for the visitors, they are without the services of Mostafa Mohamed, who will represent Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
There are also a number of injury absentees, with Mbaye Diagne, Fernando Muslera and Fatih Ozturk all set to miss Sunday's encounter.
Inaki Pena has joined on loan from Barcelona, and the goalkeeper is set to make his debut for Galatasaray on Sunday.
Alanyaspor possible starting lineup:
Marafona; Juanfran, Aksoy, Bayir, Borja; Akbaba, Novais, Bekiroglu; Karaca, Davidson, Eduardo
Galatasaray possible starting lineup:
Pena; Boey, Nelsson, Marcao, Bayram; Kutlu, Antalyali, Cicaldau; Kilinc, Akturkoglu, Derivsoglu
We say: Alanyaspor 2-1 Galatasaray
With Alanyaspor enjoying a rich vein of from, and Galatasaray struggling for points, we think that the hosts will claim a narrow victory in what promises to be an intriguing and close encounter.
Top tip
body check tags ::
Previews by email