Round 21 of the Super Lig kicks off when Besiktas welcome Alanyaspor to Vodafone Park on Friday evening.
Besiktas are looking to continue their surge up the table following an excellent return to action.
Match preview
After their cup exit to Ankaragucu on penalties a week and a half ago, Besiktas responded well by making it four Super Lig wins in a row at Kayserispor at the weekend.
They are now just two points off the guaranteed European places with a game in hand, as the battle for Europe is getting increasingly closer every week among the top six.
Besiktas have even more incentive to strive for a top three position now as well given that they are out of the cup so cannot qualify via that route.
The form of Galatasaray means the chances of them reclaiming the title that Trabzonspor snatched away from them last season looks near impossible, but after a ropey start, European qualification will represent an acceptable campaign.
Continuation of some very strong home form will aid them in that target, as a defeat to Istanbul Basaksehir remains their only blemish at Vodafone Park this season.
The odds are stacked in their favour against their next opponents too, as they have beaten Alanyaspor on all six of their previous visits to this part of Istanbul.
The visitors' wildly inconsistent form continued as they had to fight back from behind, despite leading early on, in a 2-2 draw with Fatih Karagumruk last week.
Away form has been a serious let-down for Francesco Farioli's side all season, so this looks a daunting prospect.
No side has fewer points on the road than Alanyaspor, who have picked up just six from a possible 27 this campaign.
Their last two away wins came on the final day of last season and the opening day of this season, strangely enough both against their previous opponents Karagumruk.
They scored four goals to see off Andrea Pirlo's side on matchday one, but they have netted just seven goals in their following eight games away from home since, failing to win any and losing five with a goal difference of -13.
Their saving grace is that they are usually very strong in front of goal at home, as recent 5-0 and 3-1 wins at home, to Trabzonspor and Kayserispor respectively, show.
Ahmed Hassan has been responsible for many of their good things going forward, and he is just four goals away from matching his best scoring tally for a league season in Europe - 12 with Rio Ave in 2014-15.
Team News
An injury-time red card for Valentin Rosier at Kayserispor means the French right-back will be suspended for Besiktas here.
Vincent Aboubakar is back for a third spell after his release from Al-Nassr and made his first appearance on his return last week.
He scored 27 goals in 53 Super Lig games during his first two spells at the club, so he could start given his pedigree, and because of the hole left by the outgoing Wout Weghorst.
Rachid Ghezzal and Josef de Souza are expected to miss out with injuries, while former Premier League duo Romain Saiss and Nathan Redmond are both suspended after being booked against Kayserispor.
Slovenian defender Jure Balkovec is also suspended for Alanyaspor due to yellow card accumulation.
Their only injury concern is Yunus Bahadir, who is doubtful as he makes a return from the treatment room.
Attacker Famara Diedhiou left to join Granada on loan during the week, having not featured since before the World Cup.
Besiktas possible starting lineup:
Gunok; Bingol, Welinton, Sanuc, Masuaku; Muleka, Ucan, Gedson Fernandes, N'Koudou; Aboubakar, Tosun
Alanyaspor possible starting lineup:
Runarsson; Fer, Bayir, Aksoy; Ferhat, Gunes, Lusamba, Ozdemir; Karaca, Hassan, Cavaleiro
We say: Besiktas 3-0 Alanyaspor
With the opportunity to keep the pressure on Basaksehir if they can make it five wins in a row, Besiktas should fancy their chances on home soil.
Alanyaspor's woeful away form leaves them very little chance against their high-flying hosts here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Andrew Delaney
