Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray, two of Turkey’s biggest football rivals, are set to face off in a crucial derby match tonight. The game will take place at Chobani Stadium in Kadıköy, starting at 20:00 local time. Refereeing the match will be Yasin Kol, assisted by Abdullah Bora Özkara and Bahtiyar Birinci.
Current Team Conditions
Both teams come into the match with significant player absences. For Fenerbahçe, Çağlar Söyüncü and Sebastian Szymanski’s participation remains uncertain due to match fitness, while İrfan Can Kahveci and Cenk Tosun are confirmed to be sidelined. Barış Alper Yılmaz is expected to play as right-back.
On the visiting team, Galatasaray will be missing seven players for various reasons. Wilfried Singo, Ismail Jakobs, Kaan Ayhan, and Berkan Kutlu are unavailable due to injuries. Roland Sallai is suspended, and Eren Elmalı, along with Metehan Baltacı, faces disciplinary actions. This leaves Kazımcan Karataş as the only original left-back.
Match Significance
Currently, Fenerbahçe is unbeaten in the league with 31 points, trailing Galatasaray, who leads with 32 points. A victory for Fenerbahçe would propel them to the top of the standings, while a win for Galatasaray would increase their lead to four points. This match also holds significance for Trabzonspor, sitting in third with 31 points.
Financial Overview
This derby ranks as one of the most valuable matches in Turkish football history. The total squad value of Galatasaray stands at €305.2 million, while Fenerbahçe’s team is valued at €291.8 million. Together, they represent a staggering combined worth of €597 million (approximately 29 billion TL).
Key players to watch include Kerem Aktürkoğlu, who plays for Fenerbahçe after transferring from Benfica. He will face Galatasaray for the first time in his career. Participating in 13 matches this season, Kerem has scored four goals and provided three assists.
Notable Players
A total of 14 players will be participating in their first-ever derby match. For Fenerbahçe, this includes Ederson, Tarık Çetin, and Marco Asensio, among others. Galatasaray’s newcomers like Uğurcan Çakır and Leroy Sane are also looking to make their debut.
Previous Derby Experience
- Mert Hakan Yandaş has participated in six derbies, the most among current Fenerbahçe players.
- Lucas Torreira and Barış Alper Yılmaz have each played eight derbies against Fenerbahçe for Galatasaray.
- Ederson and Uğurcan Çakır have notable performances this season with strong defensive records.
Predicted Lineups
Here are the expected formations for both teams:
| Fenerbahçe | Galatasaray |
|---|---|
| Ederson | Uğurcan Çakır |
| Semedo | Barış Alper |
| Skriniar | Sanchez |
| Oosterwolde | Abdülkerim |
| Levent | Kazımcan |
| Alvarez | Lemina |
| İsmail | Torreira |
| Asensio | Sane |
| Nene | Sara |
| Kerem | Yunus (Ahmed) |
| Duran (Talisca) | Osimhen (Icardi) |
Today’s match promises to be a thrilling encounter, given the historical rivalry and both teams’ current forms. Fans eagerly await the outcome of this high-stakes derby.
