Galatasaray vs Göztepe SK – News and Probable Lineups

This weekend, Galatasaray will take on Goztepe SK at RAMS Park during the third round of the Turkish Super Lig. The reigning champions aim to secure consecutive victories after recovering from an initial loss in impressive style.

Okan Buruk’s squad started the season with a 2-2 draw against newly promoted Corum but bounced back with a convincing 4-0 win over Erzurumspor last weekend. Conversely, Goz Goz are still searching for their first win, having followed an exciting 3-3 draw at Samsunspor with a 1-0 home defeat to Genclerbirligi.

Match overview

Galatasaray struggled initially to earn their first point, leveling with Corum in their opening fixture, but delivered a much stronger performance a week later, dominating Erzurumspor in an away match.

By the half-time mark, the champions had already scored three goals, with Roland Sallai, Yunus Akgun, and Victor Osimhen all contributing to the tally, and the Nigerian forward capped it off with his second of the match ten minutes before the end of regulation.

Currently, Galatasaray sits in second place with four points from their first two fixtures, trailing two points behind unexpected leaders Genclerbirligi. They hope to maintain momentum and set a strong early mark among league frontrunners.

Playing at home always instills confidence in Galatasaray, demonstrated by their current home record. Their unbeaten run in league games at RAMS Park now extends to 36 matches after the draw with Corum, with their last league loss on home soil occurring against Fenerbahce in May 2024.

This impressive record offers Buruk’s team a significant advantage, particularly against a rival they’ve defeated in their last nine encounters.

On the other hand, Goztepe is entering this fixture in poor form, having experienced a tumultuous start to the season, accumulating just one point.

Goz Goz’s season commenced with a thrilling 3-3 tie at Samsunspor, where they rallied back twice, but their subsequent match ended in a 1-0 home loss to Genclerbirligi despite dominating possession with 16 shots and a xG of 1.92. Additionally, Malcom Bokele missed a penalty just before Sekou Koita netted the solitary goal.

With 46 touches in the opposition’s box compared to a mere 16 for the visitors, Goztepe’s failure to convert possession into goals was evident.

This setback exposed a key issue for Stoilov, as Goz Goz has found themselves uncharacteristically vulnerable defensively in their first two matches, a stark contrast to last season when they boasted the most clean sheets in the league (16).

Now, they must face a Galatasaray attack that seems to have regained its form, visiting a venue where they haven’t won since 1972, a streak comprising 15 defeats and two draws.

Team News

Galatasaray is expected to field most of the players who contributed to their victory over Erzurumspor, with Ugurcan Cakir likely to retain his position as goalkeeper and Davinson Sanchez alongside Abdulkerim Bardakci forming the central defense.

Buruk is also anticipated to keep Lucas Torreira and Gabriel Sara in midfield, with Yunus Akgun playing just behind the forward trio.

Leading the attack will likely be Osimhen, who has netted three goals in the opening two league fixtures. The only absentee for Galatasaray is goalkeeper Gunay Guvenc, who is currently sidelined due to a muscle injury and will probably miss until early September.

Goztepe’s availability situation appears more complicated, as Noah Sonko Sundberg is ruled out due to injury, while Allan Godoi’s status is uncertain after leaving the game against Genclerbirligi early.

Stoilov is expected to stick with the 3-4-1-2 formation employed against Genclerbirligi, with Andre Henrique and Sinclair Armstrong being the primary offensive threats.

The Bulgarian coach will need the midfield duo of Alex Matos and Novatus Miroshi to maintain their solidity while not completely sacrificing their offensive intent that produced numerous goal-scoring opportunities in their initial matches.

Galatasaray probable starting XI:

Ugurkan; Sallai, Sanchez, Bardacci, Jakobs; Torreira, Sara; Sane, Akgun, Baris Alper; Osimhen

Goztepe SK probable starting XI:

Gugeshashvili; Altikardes, Yildirim, Bokele; Survivor, Miroshi, Matos, Flag; Bekiroglu; Henrique, Armstrong

We anticipate Goztepe will create opportunities, especially if Galatasaray’s full-backs advance and leave gaps in their backline. However, the champions should possess too much quality in the attacking third.

With Osimhen’s form at the start of the season, home advantage, and Galatasaray’s capacity to capitalize on Goztepe’s defensive mistakes, Buruk’s team is expected to clinch a third successive win.