Galatasaray is set to host Istanbul Basaksehir in a crucial Turkish Super Lig match at Rams Park on Saturday. This clash comes on the heels of Galatasaray’s recent Champions League success, where they secured a 1-0 victory against Liverpool in the round of 16. Okan Buruk’s team currently leads the league table, four points ahead of Fenerbahce.
Match Preview: Galatasaray vs Istanbul Basaksehir
Galatasaray’s Mario Lemina emerged as a key player during the Champions League match, scoring the opening goal only seven minutes in. He capitalized on a corner delivered by Victor Osimhen, solidifying a critical lead ahead of the return leg at Anfield on March 18.
As of now, Galatasaray has won four consecutive matches in all competitions. Their most recent league victory was against Besiktas in an Istanbul derby, where Osimhen’s 39th-minute header secured a narrow 1-0 win, boosting Galatasaray’s points to 61 with just nine matches remaining in the league.
Recent Performance
Both Galatasaray and Basaksehir are the two most in-form teams in the Super Lig. Over the last ten league matches, they have each garnered 25 points. In their last five games, both teams have achieved the best record, accumulating 12 points each.
Head-to-Head History
- Galatasaray is unbeaten in their last eight encounters with Basaksehir.
- They have won seven and drawn one of these meetings.
- The last time Basaksehir defeated Galatasaray was in 2023 during a cup tie.
- Prior to that, Basaksehir’s last league victory against Galatasaray was in 2019.
Despite their historical struggles against Galatasaray, Basaksehir comes into this match with recently gained momentum, having overcome Goztepe 2-1 in their last league outing. Goals from Omer Ali Sahiner and Ivan Brnic secured their win, showcasing their ability to perform against top-tier defenses.
Team News
Galatasaray’s coach, Okan Buruk, will be without several key players due to suspensions and injuries. Metehan Baltaci is suspended due to an ongoing legal investigation, while Abdulkerim Bardakci is also suspended for yellow card accumulation. Additionally, Leroy Sane is serving a suspension, and Arda Unyay is out with a muscle injury.
Osimhen continues to be a vital attacking force for Galatasaray, contributing directly to 12 goals in his last eight matches. He aims to score in three consecutive league games.
On the other side, Basaksehir will miss Amine Harit due to injury and Kazimcan Karatas, who is suspended for yellow card accumulation.
Possible Lineups
| Galatasaray | Istanbul Basaksehir |
|---|---|
| Cakir | Sengezer |
| Sallai | Sahiner |
| Sanchez | Duarte |
| Kahraman | Opoku |
| Jakobs | Operi |
| Torreira | Kemen |
| Lemina | Gunes |
| Yilmaz | Fayzullaev |
| Sara | Shomurodov |
| Lang | Sari |
| Osimhen | Selke |
With their current form and confidence bolstered by recent victories, Galatasaray appears poised to secure another win. Their strong history against Basaksehir, combined with home advantage, makes them the favorites for this encounter. A predicted scoreline favors Galatasaray at 2-1 against their rivals.
