Beşiktaş vs Göztepe SK – News and Probable Lineups

A challenging fixture is set to take place at Tupras Stadium this Sunday evening, as fifth-placed Besiktas aims to surpass fourth-placed Goztepe SK in the Turkish Super Lig standings.

The Black Eagles currently hold 40 points, standing just one point behind Goztepe at 41. This matchup gains extra intensity as both teams come into the game in excellent form, with Besiktas unbeaten in their last 15 matches across all competitions (9W, 6D) and Goztepe avoiding defeat in their previous eight (5W, 3D).

Match overview

Besiktas pulled off a dramatic late victory against Istanbul Basaksehir, with substitute Mustafa Hekimoglu finding the net six minutes into stoppage time, clinching a 3-2 win after the opposition leveled the score in the 88th minute.

This resilience showcases the positive influence Sergen Yalcin has had since his return, and with Besiktas firmly in pursuit of a top-four finish, a win here would elevate them above Goztepe and bolster their European aspirations.

The Black Eagles have not suffered a defeat since their loss to Fenerbahce in November and remain unbeaten in their last 11 league encounters (6W, 5D); however, Yalcin has emphasized the significance of upcoming matches against Goztepe, Kocaelispor, and Galatasaray, understanding that this stretch could be crucial for their season.

Although they are on a lengthy unbeaten streak, Besiktas has found it difficult to secure wins at home, drawing three of their last six league games in this venue, including a 2-2 deadlock with Alanyaspor.

They also confront a team they’ve had trouble overcoming lately, failing to win any of their last four encounters with Goztepe (1D, 3L), making this a potentially challenging match for the home side.

Defensive weaknesses may pose a concern for Besiktas, who have gone five competitive fixtures without a clean sheet, frequently depending on their attack to outscore rivals.

On the other hand, Goztepe will look to capitalize on those defensive shortcomings while upholding the defensive organization that has supported their campaign.

However, their attacking performance has raised some red flags, as they’ve struggled to score in their last two matches, both resulting in goalless draws against teams in the bottom five, including the league’s weakest defense, Kayserispor, and the struggling Konyaspor.

Stanimir Stoilov’s squad has recorded the fewest goals among the top six teams (27), but their league-best defense—with only 12 goals conceded and 13 clean sheets in 22 matches—has continually balanced this out.

Encouragingly for the visitors, they have experienced recent victories against Besiktas, triumphing 3-0 in the earlier league clash back in September, along with winning 3-1 in the Turkish Cup and 4-2 in the league during their last two visits to this venue.

Team News

Besiktas is likely to remain without the services of injured defender Taylan Bulut and Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, both of whom missed the last match.

Necip Uysal is getting closer to a return but may not be primed to start, while forward El Bilal Toure could face a late fitness evaluation.

The January acquisition Hyun-Gyu Oh has made a quick impact, scoring two goals and providing an assist in his first two league outings, and Orkun Kokcu has maintained his good form by finding the net against Basaksehir.

Junior Olaitan, who joined Besiktas during the winter transfer window, may have the chance to face his former team for the first time, possibly looking to make a statement.

Goztepe will be missing defender Ismail Koybasi due to an undisclosed injury, while Efkan Bekiroglu and Juan Santos are doubtful.

Brazilian forwards Juan and Jeferson, however, have resumed training after missing the draw with Kayserispor and could be available for selection.

Besiktas probable starting XI:

Destanolglu; Sazdagi, Agbadou, Topcu, Yilmaz; Asllani; Cerny, Kokcu, Olaitan, Under; Oh

Goztepe SK probable starting XI:

Lis; Allan Godoi, Heliton, Bokele; Kurtulan, Miroshi, Dennis, Cherni; Krastev; Janderson, Guilherme Luiz

Given that both teams are performing well, this matchup is expected to be close, with Besiktas enjoying the momentum and home advantage at Tupras Stadium, although defensive inconsistencies remain a worry.

Goztepe has the best defense in the Turkish Super Lig and has had recent success in this fixture, but their offensive limitations could hinder their performance in this match, leading us to anticipate a narrow win for the hosts.