One of the biggest games in the Turkish football season will take place on Monday when Galatasaray face local rivals Besiktas.
Galatasaray will be in a buoyant mood after holding Barcelona to a goalless draw at the Camp Nou in the first leg of their Europa League tie, while Besiktas enter the contest in the midst of a nine-game unbeaten league run.
Match preview
After a 2-0 defeat away to Konyaspor ended their four-match unbeaten league run, Galatasaray would have travelled to Spain with a feeling of trepidation as they faced the daunting prospect of a Europa League last 16 encounter with Barcelona.
However, there was no need to worry as Domenec Torrent's side resisted Barcelona's attacks to ensure that the tie will head Turkey on level terms following Thursday's goalless draw.
As Galatasaray turn their attention back to league action, they will be disappointed by the 12th place they currently occupy, but encouraged by recent league results that has moved them seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Although a top-half finish is the best they can hope for this season, games do not get much bigger than Monday's encounter with fellow Istanbul side Besiktas.
Following an impressive 4-2 win in their last outing at the Nef Stadium, Galatasaray will be aiming to claim back-to-back home victories by overcoming their local rivals on Monday.
Defending champions Besiktas have also fallen short of expectations this season, with the Black Eagles currently sitting in seventh place.
Onder Karaveli will be looking for a strong finish to the season, and with just two points separating his side from the European places, a top-four position will be the aim.
The Black Eagles demonstrated their fighting qualities in their most recent outing, coming from behind on two occasions to clinch a point at home against Istanbul Basaksehir.
Guven Yalcin hit back for the hosts following Trezeguet's opener before Stefano Okaka restored Istanbul Basaksehir's advantage on the stroke of half time, but a second-half strike from Kenan Karaman ensured that the spoils would be shared.
As well as claiming a point, last weekend's draw extended Besiktas's unbeaten league run to nine matches, although Karaveli will be slightly frustrated that five of those nine contests have ended all square, with his side looking to claim all three points rather than just the one on Monday.
- L
- D
- D
- W
- W
- L
- D
- D
- W
- W
- L
- D
- D
- D
- D
- W
- W
- D
- W
- D
- W
- W
- L
- D
Team News
Inaki Pena impressed against his parent club in midweek, but the goalkeeper will be hoping for a quieter evening when he makes his seventh consecutive start on Monday.
Torrent could bring back Bafetimbi Gomis into the starting lineup, which would result in Mostafa Mohamed dropping down to the bench.
After playing in midweek and with the second leg against Barcelona taking place on Thursday, Torrent could also make a few more changes to freshen up his side, with Erick Pulgar, Emre Kilinc and Alexandru Cicaldau all candidates to return to the starting lineup.
Besiktas have a number of injury absentees, with Atiba Hutchinson, Josef de Souza, Miralem Pjanic, Oguzhan Ozyakup and Georges-Kevin N'Koudou all set to miss out.
Meanwhile, Welinton is also expected to be sidelined after picking up an injury against Istanbul Basaksehir, which could result in the home side lining up with Domagoj Vida and Serdar Saatci in the centre of defence.
Karaveli could also make a change upfront, with top scorer Michy Batshuayi expected to replace Yalcin.
Galatasaray possible starting lineup:
Pena; Boey, Nelsson, Marcao, Van Aanholt; Kilinc, Kutlu, Pulgar, Cicaldau, Akturkoglu; Gomis
Besiktas possible starting lineup:
Destanoglu; Rosier, Vida, Saatci, Yilmaz; Bozdogan, Topal; Ghezzal, Teixeira, Karaman; Batshuayi
We say: Galatasaray 1-2 Besiktas
With this being a derby contest, we expect Monday's encounter to be a cagey affair, but as Galatasaray have one eye on their Europa League last-16 second leg with Barcelona on Thursday, we think that a Besiktas side that are fully focused on the league will claim all three points.
body check tags ::
Previews by email
