Two teams at opposite ends of the Turkish Super Lig table will clash when Antalyaspor host Galatasaray at the New Antalya Stadium on Saturday.
While the hosts are just two places clear of the relegation zone, the visitors are firmly seated at the top of the table after eight matches.
Match preview
Antalyaspor finished in 10th place last season, but their start to this season suggests that a top-half finish could be a significant challenge if they fail to quickly turn things around.
The Scorpions are currently in 14th place with eight points, having won and drawn two each of eight matches, while they have lost four, including the last two matches.
Alex de Souza's team have failed to win any of their three matches since a home victory over Adana Demirspor on September 16, playing a goalless draw with Kasimpasa, before losing 2-0 to Fenerbahce, and 2-1 against Rizespor in their most recent league game.
Things are not looking to improve for Antalyaspor, who are facing league leaders Galatasaray in their next game, a team they last beat in 2016 – they have played 16 encounters against them since then, drawing four and losing 12 times, including the last four.
In 34 occasions that they have hosted this fixture, the Scorpions have won just four times, lost 19 times, and drawn 11, suggesting that the hosts will need to deliver a performance of their lives to take something from this game.
Meanwhile, Galatasaray could only convert one of their nine shots on target as they recorded a 1-0 home win over Alanyaspor in their last match, leaving the Lions unbeaten in the Super Lig after eight matches, with seven wins and a draw.
It was a much-needed win for Okan Buruk's men, who were coming from embarrassing back-to-back draws with RFS in the Europa League and Kasimpasa in the Super Lig, as they lost two-goal and three-goal leads respectively in those games.
With 22 points, Galatasaray are sitting pretty in first place, four points ahead of surprise packages Samsunspor, who currently occupy the second spot in the Super Lig table.
The Lions will hope to build another winning streak in the Super Lig, after seeing their six-match winning streak end with the draw against Kasimpasa, and a win on Saturday could potentially see them extend their lead at the top, as two of their closest rivals, Samsunspor and Fenerbahce, will play each other on Sunday.
Team News
Emrecan Uzunhan, who suffered a muscle injury in September, remains sidelined for Antalyaspor until later this month, and the same goes for Bunyamin Balci, who is also out for the next few weeks with a finger injury.
They are joined on the treatment table by Bahadir Ozturk and Erdal Rakip, who have both picked up ankle issues that will see them sidelined until next month.
Galatasaray will continue to be without Hakim Ziyech, who is sidelined with a muscle injury until late October, while Baris Yilmaz, who is dealing with the same issue, is doubtful.
Victor Osimhen, who opened his account for the Lions with a brace in the draw with Kasimpasa, will not get the chance to add to his tally in this game, as he remains sidelined with a thigh injury and is ruled out until November.
Twenty-five-year-old defender Ismail Jakobs has undergone surgery for the knee injury he suffered while representing Senegal during the international break, and is only expected back next month.
Antalyaspor possible starting lineup:
Piric; Yilmaz, Sari, Thalisson, Vural; Petrusenko, Kaluzinski; Townsend, Larsson, Djenepo; Samudio
Galatasaray possible starting lineup:
Muslera; Ayhan, Sanchez, Bardakci, Nelsson; Sara, Torreira; Yilmaz, Mertens, Akgun; Icardi
We say: Antalyaspor 0-2 Galatasaray
Galatasaray have appeared to operate in a different stratosphere this season compared to most of their opponents in the Super Lig, and we expect this quality to easily overwhelm Antalyaspor, leaving the visitors with a comfortable victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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