Galatasaray will aim to get their season back on track when they travel to the Turkish Super Lig's bottom-placed side Caykur Rizespor on Sunday evening.

Languishing in mid-table, it has not been the start expected of the title contenders and they travel to eastern Turkey having won only once in their past five league matches.

Match preview

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Losing out on the 2020-21 title by a single goal, Galatasaray went into the new campaign amongst the favourites to top the Super Lig, yet their early-season form has seen them heading in the opposite direction so far.

Winners in their opening two matches against Giresunspor and Hatayspor, the Lions went on a run of four matches without a win, including back-to-back defeats to Alanyaspor and Kayserispor.

Humiliated 3-0 in the defeat to Kayserispor, the pressure was on Galatasaray to get a result when they welcomed Goztepe last weekend and it looked as if another shock defeat was on the cards when the visitors took the lead midway through the first half.

Thankfully for Galatasaray boss Fatih Terim, his side turned the match around in the second period, squeezing past Goztepe with a slender 2-1 victory, and the 68-year-old coach will be hoping that they can use that as a catalyst to kick on.

Part of their problems this year has been down to their frailties in defence, with only three teams in the entire division having conceded more than the 22-times Turkish champions.

Shipping 10 goals in their opening seven Super Lig matches, Galatasaray have registered just one league clean sheet all season, coming all the way back in their opening game of the campaign.

By contrast, the Lions have enjoyed much better form in Europe this year, picking up four points from a possible six in their Europa League campaign.

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Backing up their matchday one victory over a high-flying Lazio with a valuable point against Marseille in midweek, Galatasaray have positioned themselves with a great opportunity to make it out of a Europa League group for the first time since 2009-10.

With a double-header against Lokomotiv Moscow on the horizon, Galatasaray will focus their attention back on domestic football when they take on Rizespor this weekend.

Winless from their first seven matches, Rizespor are another side desperate for three points and the Black Sea Sparrowhawk will be looking to extend their impressive head-to-head record over one of Turkey's biggest sides.

Victorious in two of their previous three matches against Sunday's visitors, Rizespor have proved tough opposition in recent years for the Lions and, given Galatasaray's stumbling form, a third victory may not be an unthinkable proposition.

Galatasaray have won only two of their away matches across all competitions this season, making this weekend's visit to the Estadio Caykur Didi a difficult prospect.

If they are to pull off the shock result, they will need to put an end to five straight defeats in the league – a run that has seen Hamza Hamzaoglu's side concede 13 goals across that time.

Add into the mix the three conceded on opening day against Besiktas and Rizespor comfortably boast the division's worst defensive record, with their luck at the other end of the pitch not much better either.

Only 19th-placed Giresunspor have scored fewer goals than Rizespor this season, meaning if they are not on top form, it could be a long afternoon for the side at the foot of the Super Lig.

Team News

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It is not as if Galatasaray can pin their poor form on an unlucky run with injuries, as Terim has had near enough a full squad to choose from for the majority of the season.

Omar Elabdellaoui is set to miss the trip to Rizespor through injury, as is former Atletico Madrid and Barcelona winger Arda Turan, who will also be absent for the match.

Turan is yet to feature for the Lions in the league this season, however, the 34-year-old is expected to make a return following a two-month long injury soon.

Patrick van Aanholt has featured in every Super Lig match for Galatasaray this season and the full-back will feature on the left-hand side once again, whilst Halil Dervisoglu will be looking to add to his goal last time out when he leads the Lions' attack.

It has not been an easy season for Rizespor so far and Hamzaoglu's job has been made much more difficult following a number of injuries to key players.

Fabricio Baiano was substituted off in Rizespor's recent loss to Altay SK and missed their following match against Istanbul Basaksehir, with the full-back once again not available for the hosts.

On the opposite side of the defence, Rizespor have also been without their left-back Cemali Sertel, who has missed the previous three matches through a muscle injury.

Nathan Monzango and Ronaldo Mendes are also expected to be missing for the hosts, however, summer signing Yannick Bolasie will be keen to add to his one goal scored since arriving at Rizespor when Galatasaray visit on Sunday.

Fellow former Premier League forward Loic Remy has not enjoyed as much success this year in front of goal, yet following a short stint out of the side through injury, the former Chelsea striker is in contention to start this weekend.

Caykur Rizespor possible starting lineup:
Akkan; Gonul, Ay, Holmen, Koc; Dabo, Pehlivan; Potuk, Boyd, Bolasie; Remy

Galatasaray possible starting lineup:
Muslera; Van Aanholt, Nelsson, Luyindama, Yedlin; Kutlu, Cicaldau, Morutan; Feghouli, Dervisoglu, Akturkogly

We say: Caykur Rizespor 0-3 Galatasaray

Granted, their form has been below par this season, but Galatasaray will be firm favourites against a Rizespor desperately struggling for form so far.

An ideal match for the Lions to get their season back on the right track, expect a comprehensive victory when Galatasaray travel east this weekend.

Written by
Amos Murphy

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