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

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

Match preview

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:

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Galatasaray form (all competitions):

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Antalyaspor Turkish Super Lig form:

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Team News

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 back 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

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.

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