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

These sides have made contrasting starts to the season, with the hosts yet to register their first points of the current campaign, while the visitors are unbeaten after their first two league games.

Match preview

Gaziantep were forced to withdraw from the league last season following an earthquake that affected their stadium, but their return to action this season has not gone as they would have hoped so far.

Erdal Gunes's side got the campaign started with a 2-1 loss to Fenerbahce on the opening weekend, followed by a 3-1 defeat against Sivasspor a week later, and are now three losses in three, having fallen 2-0 to Konyaspor last weekend.

With that result, they are now one of only two sides, along with Istanbul Basaksehir, that are yet to get off the mark for the season, though The Grey Owls have only played two league matches to date.

Before pulling out of the league, Gaziantep had played 10 home games and recorded three wins, four draws and three losses, managing to keep just one clean sheet in that time and are unsurprisingly the clear outsiders in this match.

Meanwhile, after claiming their 23rd Super League title last season, Galatasaray look to have continued their excellent form this term and come into this match unbeaten in their eight competitive matches since the summer break.

The Lions won the league last season by an eight-point margin over rivals Fenerbahce and had the best home (W15 D2 L1) and away (W13 D2 L3) records in the league while they also put up the best defensive numbers with just 27 goals conceded in 36 matches.

Okan Buruk's side secured their place in the Champions League group stages, beating Molde 5-3 on aggregate in the playoff qualification round in the midweek, and have been drawn into Group A, which features Bayern Munich, FC Copenhagen and Manchester United.

However, before they begin their European Cup journey, Gala will turn their attention to the domestic competition, where they are currently on four points after two matches, including a 0-0 draw with Kayserispor and a 2-0 win over Trabzonspor two weeks ago.

Gala have a very good record against this opponent with five wins in their last six encounters, and based on their early season form, the reigning champions will be expecting nothing less than three points in this one.

Gaziantep Turkish Super Lig form:

Galatasaray Turkish Super Lig form:

Galatasaray form (all competitions):

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Team News

Gunes will be without the services of Ilker Karakas in this match as the forward is still recovering from a collarbone fracture and is at least a couple of weeks away from returning to the squad.

Furkan Soyalp has looked lively in the first few games and should start in midfield, while Valmir Veliu will hope to join him in the centre of the park, having missed out last week against Konyaspor.

Mauro Icardi has been excellent in recent weeks for his new side, bagging five goals in his last four matches and is almost certain to lead the line again in this match.

Buruk is yet to call on the services of Wilfried Zaha this season, with Baris Alper Yilmaz, Kerem Akturkoglu and Dries Mertens seeming to be the preferred midfield combination at present.

Gaziantep possible starting lineup:

Sen; M'Bakata, Djilobodji, Ersoy, Khacef; Soyalp, Jevtovic, Bikel; Eskihellac, Riascos, Maxim

Galatasaray possible starting lineup:

Muslera; Boey, Nelsson, Bardakci, Angelino; Oliveira, Torreira; Akturkoglu, Mertens, Yilmaz; Icardi

We say: Gaziantep 1-3 Galatasaray

The visitors are in fine form at the moment and will be full of confidence after securing Champions League football in midweek. Gala are unbeaten in their last 8 matches this season, and we expect them to keep that record going with another win in this one.

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