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

Hatayspor and Galatasaray will be looking to bounce back after disappointing defeats last time out, and they meet at the Yeni Hatay Stadyumu in the Turkish Super Lig on Sunday.

The hosts missed an opportunity to climb into the top four on Saturday, remaining in sixth spot and one point behind Adana Demirspor in fourth, while Turkish giants Galatasaray need to lift themselves up the table to avoid their worst-ever finish in the division.

Match preview

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Hatayspor started this season in fine form, winning seven of their first 11 matches, but since then they have only managed three wins in their last nine outings, and a 3-1 defeat against Kasimpasa on Saturday could prove damaging to Omer Erdogan's squad.

Kasimpasa are placed in 17th position but eased to victory against Hatayspor, with Onur Ergun's 75th-minute strike proving to just be a consolation goal for the visitors.

Erdogan's side's defensive stability has slipped since the end of November, as in their five defeats since then they have conceded at least three goals in four of those losses.

Hatayspor have only drawn two games all season and that would be expected when they are suffering defeats by heavy margins, giving themselves little chance of scraping a point from those defeats.

That suggests that Hatayspor will obviously need to limit Galatasaray's chances on goal, as if they allow their visitors to get on the front foot then the game could be out of reach for Erdogan's side before they know it.

Galatasaray's worst finish in the top flight of Turkish football came in the 1981-82 season, when they finished in 11th spot, but Domenec Torrent's side are dangerously close to replacing that unwanted stat, currently sitting in 12th spot.

Sunday's outing will be Torrent's first in charge of his new side, after taking over from Fatih Terim, who was dismissed of his duties in Istanbul on Monday.

The Spaniard will be hoping that he can have an immediate positive impact on the Galatasaray squad, after the side suffered a 1-0 defeat against Giresunspor last weekend.

One of the first things that Torrent can look to improve is Galatsaray's away form, having only won twice on their travels in the Super Lig this season, and so victory on Sunday will boost that record slightly.

This weekend's visitors can take confidence from the result that they earned during the last meeting between these two sides, having won 2-1 against Hatayspor earlier in the season thanks to goals from Sofiane Feghouli and Christian Luyindama.

Team News

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Mali international Adama Traore and Morocco duo Munir and Ayoub El Kaabi will not feature for Hatayspor this month as they are away playing in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Full-back Burak Camoglu is sidelined due to a muscle injury and he is nearing a return to action but Sunday's outing is likely to have come too soon for the 25-year-old.

Sam Adekugbe receive two yellow cards against Konyaspor and served his suspension against Giresunspor and Kasimpasa, meaning that he will be available for selection for the hosts.

Galatasaray also have representation at the Africa Cup of Nations, with Egypt international Mostafa Mohamed and Algerian winger Feghouli away on duty and so unavailable to the Cimbom this weekend.

Centre-back Victor Nelsson will serve a one-game suspension this weekend after picking up his fourth yellow card of the season last time out against Giresunspor and fellow defensive partner Isik Arslan was forced off after 20 minutes due to an injury in that game.

Luyindama could line up alongside Marcao in the heart of Galatasaray's back four, with Patrick van Aanholt and Sacha Boey likely to operate in the full-back roles.

Fernando Muslera picked up a serous cruciate ligament injury last month which has ruled him out for the rest of the season, while Omar Elabdellaoui and Mbaye Diagne are expected to be missing on Sunday due to injury.

Hatayspor possible starting lineup:
Yigiter; Falette, Oksuz, Sackey, Popov; Saint-Louis, Ergun; Kamara, Mert, Lobzhanidze; Diouf

Galatasaray possible starting lineup:
Cipe; Van Aanholt, Luyindama, Marcao, Boey; Cicaldau, Kutlu; Babel, Morutan, Kilinc; Dervisoglu

We say: Hatayspor 0-2 Galatasaray

The arrival of new manager Torrent should give Galatasaray a major lift and that effect should result in three points on Sunday, also taking advantage of Hatayspor losing to relegation fighters Kasimpasa last time out.

Hatayspor have not been high scorers in recent weeks which is why the visitors should be confident of a clean sheet, and that will give them the platform to then go and win the match.

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