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

Two teams at opposite ends of the Super Lig table will compete on Sunday when 13th-placed Galatasaray host current league leaders Trabzonspor.

The hosts are just four points above the relegation zone right now, meanwhile the visitors have only lost once all season.

Match preview

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This season has proven to be difficult for Galatasaray, with the club a far cry away from the second place where they finished the 2020-21 campaign.

Right now, they sit in 13th, having lost nine of their first 22 Super Lig matches, and more worryingly there are just four points between them and the relegation zone.

This places huge pressure on every match, and is the main reason why Fatih Terim was fired as the manager, being replaced by Domenec Torrent on January 11.

However, that change has yet to see an alteration in the results, with the new boss having guided the team to two defeats so far, which is a run he would like to end immediately.

Despite Halil Dervisoglu putting Galatasaray ahead in their most recent outing against Kasimpasa, they were only able to hold onto that lead for nine minutes, before losing the game 3-1.

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On the other hand, Trabzonspor are having a fantastic campaign so far, losing only once in the league to this point, with the current table toppers looking to improve upon their fourth-placed finish last season.

That is something they are well on their way to doing, creating a nine-point gap at the top of the division as they head into the second half of fixtures.

However, the club have struggled to pick up victories recently, as they have drawn three of their last four outings in the Super Lig, which will provide some confidence to their opponents.

Trabzonspor have only scored more than one goal once in their previous six matches in all competitions, which has been one of the big issues for the team as of late.

Plus, a draw was the result the last time these two teams met, and it was the league leaders who had to fight from behind after an Emre Kilinc brace in the first half, with Abdullah Avci guiding his squad to a 2-2 result that day.

Team News

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Mostafa Mohamed and Sofiane Feghouli will be unavailable for the hosts this weekend as they are both on international duty for the Africa Cup of Nations.

On top of that, Taylan Antalyali will continue his suspension following a red card, but Berkan Kutlu will be returning after he reached the threshold for yellow cards.

Galatasaray do have a lot of injury concerns at the moment with, Christian Luyindama, Isik Arslan, Mbaye Diagne, Fernando Muslera and Omar Elabdellaoui all out of action.

However, Arda Turan did make his return to the side from the bench in their most recent outing, which means he could be an option from the first whistle this time around.

Djaniny is the only absentee for Trabzonspor in terms of the Africa Cup of Nations, but Anders Trondsen is out until February, while Gervinho is set to miss the entire season due to a cruciate ligament injury.

Anthony Nwakaeme and Manolis Siopis missed out in midweek due to positive COVID-19 tests, and a potential return for them would depend on negative results.

Galatasaray possible starting lineup:
Cipe; Yedlin, Nelsson, Marcao, Bayram, Van Aanholt, Antalyali; Morutan, Cicaldau, Akturkoglu; Dervisoglu

Trabzonspor possible starting lineup:
Cakir; Peres, Turkmen, Hugo, Denswil; Ozdemir, Tokoz; Omur, Bakasetas, Visca; Cornelius

We say: Galatasaray 0-1 Trabzonspor

After consecutive draws in their most recent outings, the league leaders will be wanting to get back to winning ways this Sunday in order to maintain their gap at the top.

With Galatasaray struggling for form as of late, this could be the ideal fixture for Trabzonspor to pick up three points.

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