Cheer on Gala on Sunday afternoon
Galatasaray host Istanbulspor on Sunday in aiming to keep the pressure on Fenerbahce at the top of the Turkish Super Lig.
The visitors arrive with very different concerns this season, the Bulls sit 18th in the 19-team division, having yielded just eight points from 13 matches so far.
Gala have not won the league title since 2018/19, with Istanbul Basaksehir, Besiktas and Trabzonspor taking the crown in the years since, and they will be desperate to stop that run under the leadership of Okan Buruk.
Fenerbahce have not won the division for eight seasons and with that in mind it could be a very exciting title race in Turkey, with a throwback feel given the success of the two clubs over the years.
Process
Gala are comfortably the stronger side in both boxes and even though the visitors are not quite as bad as their points tally suggests, this match provides an opportunity for the hosts to get the job done with room to spare.
Istanbulspor have unsustainably underperformed to concede 26 goals from chances equating to 17.2 expected goals (xG) against, they will start to improve in their rearguard if they can sustain that process, but with the talent that Gala both in comparison to their own, that time may not come at Nef Stadium on Sunday.
The hosts will be without Mathias Ross, Mauro Icardi, Yunus Akgun and Fernando Muslera, the latter’s absence is due to a suspension.
Eslem Ozturk will miss out for the Bulls.
Gala’s defence is their stronger suit, something that may give them the best chance of regaining the league title further down the line.
They have conceded just 10 goals from 13 league outings so far, allowing just 0.8 xGA per game on average, a process that, if sustained, will keep them in the mix for the domestic crown.
Goals?
A potential angle in, but the visitors may simply look to keep the score down given their struggles at the bottom end.
Gala have scored in nine of ten.
Gala have conceded in six of ten.
Gala have seen both teams score in six of ten.
Gala have seen over 2.5 goals in eight of ten.
Istanbulspor have scored in eight of ten.
Istanbulspor have conceded in all of their last ten.
Istanbulspor have seen both teams score in eight of ten.
Istanbulspor have seen over 2.5 goals in seven of ten.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
2-1 Gala, we are scuppered by an 82nd minute finish for the visitors.