Galatasaray
- Okan Buruk’s relentless pressing, vertical passing and half-space overloads will come head-to-head with Nuri Sahin’s patient, possession-based build-up and positional discipline when Galatasaray host Istanbul Basaksehir in the Super Lig on Saturday.
- Buruk’s teams are always high-tempo and attack-minded, so much so that they are known to be risk-takers who prefer to press forward rather than consolidate a lead.
- Galatasaray are on a two-game winning streak after they took the Istanbul Derby with a 1-0 away victory over Besiktas and followed it up with a 3-1 home win over Alanyaspor.
- They have won four of their last five games in all competitions with one defeat.
Istanbul Basaksehir
- The visitors arrive on a three-game winning run and have four wins in their last five, including a pair of away victories.
- Eldor Shomurodov is their top scorer with 16 goals in 25 Super Lig appearances, but Davie Selke has been in red-hot form of late with five in his last five.
- This should be an intriguing game because Sahin has brought a structure to Basaksehir’s build-up play and their pressing triggers since his appointment as head coach.
- They score when they get on the break, but can be incredibly tough to crack when they sit back in a compact defensive block.
Head-to-Head
- Galatasaray are the most consistent club in Turkey’s Super Lig with 61 points from 25 games.
- Galatasaray have won the last three head-to-head encounters, including a 2-1 away win over Basaksehir four months ago.
Key Players
- Eldor Shomurodov is their top scorer with 16 goals in 25 Super Lig appearances, but Davie Selke has been in red-hot form of late with five in his last five.
- Mauro Icardi, who has scored 13 times in 23 Super Lig games this term, is Galatasaray’s greatest goal threat and his form should see them dominate this clash.
Betting Insights
The odds for a home victory look fair at around 1.6 , although Both Teams to Score - Yes should have a run at 1.61 because Basaksehir have scored 21 goals in 12 away Super Lig fixtures.
Prediction
Galatasaray’s home record in the Super Lig is untarnished with ten wins and three draws from 13 outings , so we’re backing them to come out on top in this clash.
