Galatasaray welcome Sivasspor to Rams Park on Sunday in a clash that pits two sides at opposite ends of the Turkish Super Lig table, with very different priorities as the season draws to a close.
While the hosts are looking to pick up another win that will draw them closer to the title, the visitors are in search of a valuable point to boost their survival chances.
Match preview
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Okan Buruk‘s side are motoring towards the title and enter this fixture fresh from dismantling Eyupspor 5-1, underscoring the recent ruthlessness that have encapsulated Galatasaray’s performances.
That comprehensive win made it three league victories in a row and five straight across all competitions, including a 5-1 thrashing of Konyaspor in the Turkish Cup semi-finals.
With a cup final against Trabzonspor, who they face in the league next still to come, Cimbom are on course for a historic double, as they have a five-point cushion at the summit, with five matches remaining, placing them firmly in control of the title race.
The visit of struggling Sivasspor represents another opportunity for Galatasaray to tighten their grip on the title, and the hosts will be confident of three points here, having won four of the last five meetings between the two sides, drawing the other, and are undefeated in this fixture since 2021.
Should they lift the title this year, it would be the 25th in their illustrious history, while also marking the third time the Istanbul giants have completed a league three-peat, and with further home matches against Kayserispor and Istanbul Basaksehir still to come, they will be confident of maintaining their momentum on home turf, while looking to dominate the remaining two away games against Goztepe and Trabzonspor.
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For Sivasspor, the situation is far more precarious, as Riza Calimbay‘s side find themselves hovering above the relegation zone on goal difference alone, level on 34 points with Alanyaspor, who have played a game fewer.
The Braves’ recent 2-0 win over Antalyaspor was vital, being a first win in four that has injected renewed hope into their battle for survival after they drew one and lost two of the previous three.
Nonetheless, Calimbay will be acutely aware that his team’s away form continues to undermine their prospects, with Sivasspor having taken just eight points from a possible 45 on the road, losing 11 of their 15 away games, the second-worst such record in the division.
With only four matches left to play, and the margins razor-thin, any positive result on the road would be a precious bonus in the final stretch.
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Team News
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Mauro Icardi has suffered a cruciate ligament tear and will miss the remainder of the season for Galatasaray, with his return not expected until next campaign.
However, Baris Alper Yilmaz has completed his suspension and is expected to return to the starting XI.
Alvaro Morata, who netted a brace in the win over Eyupspor, may be handed a more advanced role in midfield, potentially operating as the number 10.
Sivasspor have Djorde Nikolic, Alaaddin Okumus, Noah Sonko Sundberg and Jan Bieganski all sidelined with injuries.
Efkan Bekiroglu is likely to get the nod in midfield, meaning Tolga Cigerci is set to drop to the bench.
Fode Koita impressed off the bench in the win over Antalyaspor and is in contention to start up front.
Galatasaray possible starting lineup:
Muslera; Frankowski, Sanchez, Bardakci, Elmali; Torreira, Lemina; Akgun, Morata, Yilmaz; Osimhen
Sivasspor possible starting lineup:
Vural; Ciftci, Camara, Radakovic, Paluli; Moutoussamy, Charisis, Bekiroglu; Rodrigues, Manaj, Koita
We say: Galatasaray 3-1 Sivasspor
Galatasaray are in imperious form and look relentless in their charge towards the title, and with home advantage alongside superior quality across the pitch, they should have too much for a Sivasspor side who have struggled badly on the road.
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