Preview: Galatasaray vs. Adana Demirspor - prediction, team news, lineups

Having won successive league games, the hosts are level on points with league leaders Fenerbahce but remain behind with an inferior goal difference, while their visitors sit fifth following a four-game winless run.

Match preview

Galatasaray will raise the curtain on the weekend's Turkish Super Lig action on Friday with the aim of moving to the summit of the division, as they are currently in second place but tied on 37 points with table-toppers Fenerbahce after 14 games.

Okan Buruk's side scored two second-half goals via Cedric Bakambu and Hakim Ziyech to secure three points against Pendikspor last time out, leaving them with 12 points from the last five matches.

The opening-day draw away at Kayserispor and the shock defeat to Hatayspor before November's international break are the only times Galatasaray have dropped points in the league this season.

However, the reigning champions have a perfect record in front of their fans so far in the league while they have also won successive home matches against the visitors.

With the all-important Champions League match against Copenhagen for a place in the round of 16 coming up on Tuesday, the Lions will want to put this match to bed as quickly as possible without any potential casualties.

With Fenerbahce playing on Saturday, the hosts could go three points clear at the top with a win.

Adana Demirspor, meanwhile, saw their winless run extend to four games after a disappointing 3-2 defeat to Samsunspor at the New Adana Stadium last weekend.

It was a topsy-turvy affair, as Patrick Kluivert's men saw their unbeaten run at home ended by a side in the bottom four, leaving them in fifth place with 24 points amassed from 14 matches so far.

While they have been solid at home for the most part in this campaign, the Blue Lightnings have been poor on road and are still without an away win in six attempts.

Indeed, only the division's bottom two teams - Alanyaspor and Istanbulspor - have amassed fewer points on their travels so far in 2023-24, with Adana Demirspor picking up just four points from a possible 18.

Having dropped out of the top four after last weekend's defeat, Kluivert's men need an upset against the reigning champions to stay close to the European spots and set their season back on track.

Galatasaray Turkish Super Lig form:

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L

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Galatasaray form (all competitions):

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D

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Adana Demirspor Turkish Super Lig form:

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Team News

On the injury front, Buruk will be unable to call upon the services of Davinson Sanchez, who continues to recover from a muscle injury he picked up in the win over Alanyaspor.

Wilfried Zaha missed the win over Pendikspor with a muscle issue and is a doubt to feature on Friday, which means Tete is likely to keep his spot in the starting XI.

In-form midfielder Ziyech has scored three goals in the last two matches, and should start again on Friday.

Adana Demirspor are expected to remain without forward Mario Balotelli due to a knee injury, while defender Andrew Gravillon is also sidelined with a muscle issue.

M'Baye Niang was on the scoresheet against Samsunspor, taking his tally to seven goals in 14 league appearances so far this term, and should continue to lead the line in Balotelli's absence.

Galatasaray possible starting lineup:

Muslera; Boey, Ayhan, Nelsson, Karatas; Oliveira, Torreira; Tete, Ziyech, Akturkoglu; Icardi

Adana Demirspor possible starting lineup:

Makhammadaliev; Svensson, Guler, Burak, Dursun; Ndiaye, Akbaba; Sari, Belhanda, Erdogan; Niang

We say: Galatasaray 3-1 Adana Demirspor

Galatasaray have a perfect record at home and have conceded just five while scoring 16 in front of their fans. The ruthlessness they show at home will be too much for Adana Demirspor to handle.

In addition, the visitors are currently on a run of four games without a win and have one of the poorest away records in the league.

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