Fatih Karagumruk welcome Galatasaray to the Ataturk Olympic Stadium for an Istanbul derby in the Turkish Super Lig on Friday.
Galatasaray have lost the winning touch since returning from the international break and have slipped down the table as a result.
Match preview
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Four wins and a very respectable draw away to Trabzonspor had Galatasaray flying high before the internationals at the end of September.
However, fortunes have changed drastically for Okan Buruk's men since, as they are now winless in three matches, a run which has seen them fall to eighth, five points off leaders Fenerbahce.
They were unable to overcome a 10-man Adana Demirspor side before a very below par performance saw them lose 2-1 at Kayserispor the following week.
Last time out, they squandered a 2-0 lead at home to Alanyaspor, largely due to a first-half red card to Sacha Boey, before conceding a 91st-minute equaliser to draw 2-2.
On a positive note though, two of their superstar signings got their first goals for the club in that draw, with Mauro Icardi and Dries Mertens both opening their accounts for Gala.
When looking all over the pitch too, it is reasonable to question Galatasaray's underwhelming start, as a team with those goalscoring supremos and players like Sergio Oliveira, Juan Mata, Lucas Torreira and Milot Rashica behind them should be doing far better, irrespective of their ages.
Meanwhile, Karagumruk will be in much greater spirits, as back-to-back wins over Hatayspor and Umraniyespor have helped to relieve the heartbreak of their 95th-minute 5-4 loss to fellow Istanbul side Fenerbahce three weeks ago.
Those results have lifted them three points clear of the drop zone, but with sides below them also picking up points this weekend, they must ensure to keep this positive run going if they are to remain away from trouble.
Andrea Pirlo's side have been one of the great entertainers of the Super Lig so far this season, as only three sides have scored more goals, but only three have conceded as many too.
Their 5-4 defeat to Fener of course plays a big role in this, but 4-2 and 4-1 losses to Alanyaspor and Besiktas, respectively, illustrate their defensive fragility, even if they are very useful in attack.
However, their wins in the last two games saw them record 3-0 and 3-1 victories, so they have shown they are capable of shutting up shop while still having the ability to score against anyone in the league.
Mbaye Diagne has rediscovered his clinical nature in this league, as the former West Bromwich Albion man notched 51 in 64 Super Lig games before his move to the Baggies, and the Senegalese frontman has six goals for the season already.
Fabio Borini has also been well amongst the goals for Karagumruk, as he is on seven for the campaign, meaning Karagumruk have two players in the top four of the scoring charts, despite being down in 12th.
Team News
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Pirlo has been struck down with numerous injuries in recent weeks, as midfield starters Matteo Ricci and Otabek Shukurov are both expected to remain out here.
Efe Tatli is out long term with a cruciate ligament rupture, while Burak Kapacak and Ebrima Colley are missing too, but with less serious muscle issues.
Former Derby County man Colin Kazim-Richards will also be sidelined for Karagumruk here.
Despite rumours surfacing that Galatasaray were considering cancelling Icardi's loan deal after he disobeyed club orders by flying home to Argentina to attend to personal issues off the field, the ex-Inter Milan and current Paris Saint-Germain striker started and scored in the game with Alanyaspor, and he remains in manager Buruk's plans.
Buruk does have an abundance of talent to choose from in attack, and Icardi and Mertens were given the nod last time out, meaning Bafetimbi Gomis and Haris Seferovic were left on the bench, but they remain two great options to call upon when needed.
Sacha Boey and Abdulkerim Bardakci were both sent off against Alanyaspor and will be unavailable here, while Kazimcan Karatas will miss out with a thigh muscle strain.
Leo Dubois is expected to come in at right-back for his French compatriot Boey, while Emin Bayram may replace Bardakci in the centre of defence.
Fatih Karagumruk possible starting lineup:
Viviano; Biraschi, Caulker, Dresevic, Caner; Durmaz, Anwan, Ozdoev; Kouassi, Diagne, Borini
Galatasaray possible starting lineup:
Muslera; Dubois, Nelsson, Bayram, Kutlu; Rashica, Torreira, Sergio Oliveira, Akturkoglu; Mertens, Icardi
We say: Fatih Karagumruk 2-2 Galatasaray
It will be an interesting battle as Galatasaray are not usually involved in high-scoring affairs, but Karagumruk's open, expansive playing style could see that change here.
Given the firepower in both attacks, goals are almost a certainty, and with two suspensions in defence for Galatasaray, they may struggle to get back to winning ways in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Andrew Delaney
