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Galatasaray
Turkish Super Lig | Gameweek 20
Jan 21, 2023 at 4pm UK
NEF Stadyumu
Antalyaspor logo (not for use in articles)

Galatasaray
2 - 1
Antalyaspor

Icardi (49'), Floranus (59' og.)
Bardakci (90+10'), Oliveira (90+3')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Adriano (54')
Vural (15'), Larsson (60'), Balci (90+2')

Preview: Galatasaray vs. Antalyaspor - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Turkish Super Lig clash between Galatasaray and Antalyaspor, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Turkish Super Lig leaders Galatasaray welcome Antalyaspor to Istanbul on Saturday evening.

The two sides are on complete opposite ends of the form table since returning from the World Cup break.


Match preview

Galatasaray players and coaches celebrate after the match on January 8, 2023© Reuters

Galatasaray have been simply sensational this season and are already looking like champions elect.

They have not lost since mid-October and have now won 11 in a row in all competitions.

Their 3-0 win away to Fenerbahce two weeks ago felt like a real turning point in terms of moving clear at the top, as well as it being a day for their fans to take over the city of Istanbul.

They have clear daylight at the top of the Super Lig as they are four points ahead of nearest challengers Fener in second, with a first title since 2018-19 certainly now on the agenda.

The good times look like they have returned at Turkey's most successful club after a devastating 13th place finish last season was one of the worst in their history.

Stacking their squad full of quality players still in their prime years has proved fruitful for manager Okan Buruk.

Players like Mauro Icardi, Sergio Oliveira and Lucas Torreira still have a lot to offer, while Gala have arguably the best Turkish player anywhere at the moment alongside them, in the form of Kerem Akturkoglu.

Antalyaspor finished for the World Cup break with four wins in a row, but they have since nosedived down the table after an awful return to competitive action.

They have taken just two points from their five Super Lig matches post-World Cup and were knocked out of the Turkish Cup in a gruelling encounter with Kayserispor that went to extra time on Tuesday.

They may have a game in hand on the rest of the league, but that is away to Besiktas, so the likelihood of them gaining any points on their rivals in that one is slim.

In the congested bottom half of Turkey's top flight, they are just one point and one place above the relegation zone.

With the bottom two both playing big-hitters themselves and Hatayspor not in action at all, another defeat here may not be too costly at this stage though.

Galatasaray Turkish Super Lig form:


Galatasaray form (all competitions):


Antalyaspor Turkish Super Lig form:


Team News

Galatasaray's Kerem Akturkoglu celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates on January 8, 2023© Reuters

Dries Mertens should return to the Galatasaray league XI after serving a suspension for the clash with Hatayspor.

The Belgian veteran returned to the side with a goal versus Alanyaspor in the cup on Tuesday, so should start in this one too.

Buruk made nine changes for that cup win, but they could revert to a similar side that saw off Hatayspor so easily last weekend.

Mathias Ross and Kazimcan Karatas will both miss out with injury for Galatasaray.

Antalyaspor's USA international Haji Wright is facing a race to be fit for this one after missing the last two matches, while both Fredy and Houssam Ghacha are out.

Fernando will be suspended after his red card against Giresunspor last weekend.

Five players kept their place and played the majority of their arduous cup tie in midweek, so some may be feeling leggy for this and further rotation is likely.

Galatasaray possible starting lineup:
Muslera; Boey, Nelsson, Bardakci, Dubois; Torreira, Sergio Oliveira, Yilmaz, Mertens, Akturkgolu; Icardi

Antalyaspor possible starting lineup:
Uysal; Balci, Sari, Toprak, Vural; Akyol, Aydogdu, Gumus, Luiz Adriano, Larsson; Wright


SM words green background

We say: Galatasaray 3-0 Antalyaspor

Gala have been making light work of everything put in front of them in recent weeks, and an out-of-form Antalyaspor side will need a minor miracle here.

Without a win in six games, that record is expected to go on for the visitors here.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Galatasaray vs Antalyaspor

Galatasaray
100%
Draw
0.0%
Antalyaspor
0.0%
17
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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1GalatasarayGalatasaray36323189246599
2Fenerbahce36296192316193
3TrabzonsporTrabzonspor361941364481661
4Istanbul BasaksehirIstanbul361771251401158
5BesiktasBesiktas36167134943655
6KasimpasaKasimpasa36157146064-452
7SivassporSivasspor371312124553-851
8AlanyasporAlanyaspor361214105148350
9Caykur RizesporCaykur Rizespor36147154856-849
10AntalyasporAntalyaspor371212134348-548
11Adana Demirspor371014135255-344
12Samsunspor36119164048-842
13KayserisporKayserispor361111144153-1241
14KonyasporKonyaspor36913143748-1140
15AnkaragucuAnkaragucu36815134448-439
16GaziantepGaziantep36108184656-1038
17Fatih KaragumrukKaragumruk36910174548-337
18Hatayspor36813154150-937
19Pendikspor3699184272-3036
RIstanbulspor3747262774-4716


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