Galatasaray welcomes Fatih Karagumruk to the Ataturk Olympic Stadium for an Istanbul derby in the Turkish Super Lig on Friday, with kickoff at 8 pm.
After four wins and a draw away to Trabzonspor, Galatasaray flew high before the international break at the end of September.
However, fortunes have changed for the worse for Okan Buruk’s men since they are now winless in three matches. This run has seen them fall from first place to eighth in the table, five points off leaders Fenerbahce.
They could not overcome a 10-man Adana Demirspor side before a below-par performance saw them lose 2-1 at Kayserispor. Last time out, they squandered a 2-0 lead at home to Alanyaspor and conceded an equaliser in injury time in a 2-2 draw.
Meanwhile, Karagumruk will be in much better spirits after returning to winning ways with wins over Hatayspor and Umraniyespor.
They are three points clear of the relegation zone, but they need to keep this run going to avoid trouble.
Andrea Pirlo’s side has been one of the great entertainers of the Super Lig so far this season, scoring more goals than any other side but also conceding as many.
Fatih Karagumuk vs. Galatasaray Head to Head
Both sides have four games against each other, each taking one win and two draws. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Umraniyespor 1-3 Karagumuk
- Karagumuk 3-0 Hatyaspor
- Fenerbahce 5-4 Karagumuk
- Karagumuk 1-2 Istanbulspor
Away
- Galatasaray 2-2 Alanyaspor
- Galatasaray 7-0 Kastamonsuspor
- Kayserispor 2-1 Galatasaray
- Adana DS 0-0 Galatasaray
Fatih Kragumuk Team News
While midfield starters Matteo Ricci and Otabek Shukurov are both expected to remain out here, former Derby County man Colin Kazim-Richards will also be sidelined for Karagumruk. Efe Tatli is out long term with a cruciate ligament rupture, while Burak Kapacak and Ebrima Colley are missing too, but with less serious muscle issues.
Galatasaray Team News
Sacha Boey and Abdulkerim Bardakci have both been sent off this season and will be unavailable for this game, while Kazimcan Karatas has a thigh strain. Leo Dubois is expected to start right-back in place of Boey, while Emin Bayram may replace Bardakci in the centre of defence.
Prediction and Odds
Karagumruk’s open, expansive playing style should give Galatasaray a run for its money.
- Draw
- Double Chance
- Goals Over 2.5
