Beşiktaş to open up a gap over city rivals
On Sunday afternoon at Vodafone Park, fierce Istnabul rivals Beşiktaş and Galatasaray will clash in front of what normally be a cacophony of noise and atmosphere, but will instead be reduced to sporadic shouts from the touchline. BJK are top at the time of writing in the Turkish Süper Lig, and although their visitors have conceded fewer and remain on their coat-tails, Sergen Yalçın will have almost a full squad to choose from, whilst Fatih Terim will be without four of the best players in the division at the worst possible time. Read our preview here:
Rapid Ghezzal
The hosts' rise back to the summit of the league has been built on the solid foundations a 4-1-4-1 shape normally provides a tactically flexible coach, and Kara Kartalla have been no exception in that regard. Experienced Brazilian Souza is the anchor in the formation, and he has been utterly dominant in that role, doing a superb job in linking the two banks of four. Elsewhere, right-back Valentin Rosier has been great at bringing the ball out of defence and providing an option on the overlap or on the counter; veteran Canadian midfielder Atiba Hutchinson is still proving tough to beat at 37, chipping in with three goals and assists for his side; man mountain Vincent Aboubakar uses his strength rather than his aerial ability to outmuscle his marker, and has plundered plenty of strikes already this term. Moreover, erstwhile Leicester City winger Rachid Ghezzal has more than found a new home whilst out on loan, creating chance after chance for his teammates.
Slam Donk-ed!
Meanwhile, Terim is shorn of Radamel Falcao, Fernando Muslera, Sofiane Feghouli, and Omar Elabdellaoui, severely dampening his chances of leapfrogging his opposition for the weekend into a possible first place. The 6-0 destruction of Gençlerbirliği, as good as it was, is not a reliable barometer of how the available XI will perform on Sunday. Two midfielders lighter than their adversaries, and possessing wide forwards who are reluctant to track back, the onus will be on the trio in the middle to hold the fort when they're out of possession, as well as being mindful about being hit on the break. Equally, they will also be found wanting when fashioning opportunities, and might fall back on the old standby of Arda Turan creating something from nothing. At the back, they're weaker down the right side, and Ryan Donk's creaking legs will be severely tested on the counter.
Super Yalçın
Whilst no single side has been dominant in the division during 2020/2021, one aspect the home boss has got over his competitors thus far has been his approach to derby matches, and he will almost certainly have the psychological edge in this encounter. That should still filter down to the pitch despite the lack of a crowd, and with a better balance in the likely XI, Betfair are offering odds of 4.33 for the black and white outfit to rack up at least three goals.
