Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Turkish Super Lig clash between Galatasaray and Alanyaspor, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Turkish Super Lig leaders Galatasaray will be aiming to return to winning ways when they host Alanyaspor at Rams Park on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the visitors will enter this match seeking to maintain their three-match unbeaten run and extend their winning streak to three games.
Match preview
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Galatasaray have now squandered substantial leads in their last two matches while failing to win in their last two matches across all competitions.
The Lions were 2-0 up at the 38th minute but they conceded two goals between the 40th and 55th minute to draw 2-2 away at Rigas Futbola Skola in the Europa League on Thursday.
This follows a 3-3 draw with Kasimpasa in the Super Lig last Saturday where the hosts failed to hold on to a 3-0 lead, resulting in them dropping points for the first time in the league this season.
Despite the draw, Okan Buruk‘s men are still top of the table with 19 points from seven matches, three more than second-placed Fenerbahce who have played the same number of games and third-placed Besiktas who have played one fewer game.
The aim will be to avoid going three straight matches without a win across all competitions when they take to the pitch this weekend against a side that they have beaten in their last five encounters.
The Lions have the most potent attack in the league this season having scored 23 goals, but conceding five goals in their last two matches across all competitions shows that they must now pay attention to keeping things tight at the back.
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Meanwhile, Alanyaspor will enter this clash with the aim of securing their first victory against the hosts since 2021, a win that coincidentally came at Rams Park.
The visitors have steadily improved this season, claiming their first set of wins in their last two matches, after failing to win any of their opening five games, which included three draws and two defeats.
Their most recent game was at home against Caykur Rizespor, and Fatih Tekke‘s side won 1-0, thanks to a 33rd-minute goal by Nicolas Janvier, helping them climb to ninth place with nine points from seven matches.
In what will be their most challenging away trip this season, Alanyaspor will hope that their improved defensive solidity, which has seen them keep three consecutive clean sheets, can help them leave with a positive result on Sunday.
Galatasaray Turkish Super Lig form:
Galatasaray form (all competitions):
Alanyaspor Turkish Super Lig form:
Team News
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Galatasaray will continue to be without Hakim Ziyech and Roland Sallai, who are both sidelined with muscle injuries until late October.
Victor Osimhen opened his account for the hosts with a brace in their last league match, but he was forced off the game with a thigh injury and is ruled out until November.
Mauro Icardi was also on target in their last league game, and the responsibility will fall on him to shoulder the goalscoring burden on Sunday.
Alanyaspor will have a full squad available for this match, providing the manager with a wealth of options to choose from as they aim for a second consecutive win.
Sergio Cordova and Hwang Ui-jo have each scored two of the home side’s seven goals so far, and they will be the players to watch on Sunday.
Galatasaray possible starting lineup:
Guvenc; Ayhan, Sanchez, Bardakci, Jakobs; Sara, Torreira; Yilmaz, Mertens, Akgun; Icardi
Alanyaspor possible starting lineup:
Taskiran; Balkovec, Aliti, Lima, Hadergjonaj; Makouta, Richard; Cordova, Janvier, Augusto; Hwang
We say: Galatasaray 3-1 Alanyaspor
This is a clash between Galatasaray, renowned for their ruthless attacking prowess, and Alanyaspor, who have demonstrated resolute defensive capabilities in recent weeks – however, we anticipate that the hosts will prove too formidable for the visitors to overcome, and a home victory is our prediction.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.