Preview:Fatih Karagumruk vs Goztepe SK - prediction, team news, lineups

Fatih Karagumruk will be out to claim their first point of the new Turkish Super Lig season when they host Goztepe SK at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium on Friday in matchday three.

While two-thirds of the division – including this weekend’s visitors – have already played twice, the Black-Reds are only stepping out for their second fixture after their opener against Istanbul Basaksehir was postponed.

Match preview

Wallowing near the foot of the Super Lig table without a point at this early stage, Fatih can give themselves some leeway – in addition to playing fewer games – having started their campaign against one of the sternest tests on the calendar.

As expected, Marcel Licka’s men were second best against reigning champions Galatasaray at Rams Park, and being reduced to ten men for much of the encounter only compounded matters for a side already some way off their hosts’ standard.

Friday’s contest appears to bring a far lighter challenge than their previous outing, not only in pedigree but also in the head-to-head record, with the Black-Reds unbeaten in the last four clashes against Goztepe and victorious in the most recent two.

That double triumph in 2021-22 was the last time the sides crossed paths, with both clubs relegated at different stages and missing each other along the way until Fatih’s return to the top flight this season.

That said, the Black-Reds have in Friday’s opponents a ready-made blueprint of a newly promoted side that managed to leave a mark upon their return.

Indeed, Goztepe were impressive after getting back to the Super Lig in 2024-25, although a sharp dip in the second half of the campaign – just three wins in 17 matches – turned what once promised to be a European push into a modest eighth-place finish.

With ambitions raised this term, Stanimir Stoilov’s men have made a lively start with an emphatic away victory at Rizespor in their opening match before grinding out a goalless draw with Fenerbahce.

Low on attacking sparks but high on flashpoints, last weekend’s meeting with the Yellow Canaries at Gursel Aksel Stadium was fiercely contested, producing just three shots on target in total while as many players saw red between the two sides.

As a result, Stoilov must cope with the absence of Juan Santos da Silva up front and Ismail Koybasi, who was also dismissed after coming off the bench, though the gaffer will still take encouragement into Friday’s game given his side have won three of their last four away league outings stretching back to last season.

Fatih Karagumruk Turkish Super Lig form:

Fatih Karagumruk form (all competitions):

Goztepe SK Turkish Super Lig form:

Goztepe SK form (all competitions):

Team News

Fatih will be without Marius Tresor Doh, who begins a two-match suspension on Friday after receiving a straight red card against Galatasaray.

Beyond that absence, Licka has no major availability concerns and is expected to keep faith with Tiago Cukur in the central attacking role.

It is already confirmed that Juan and Koybasi will not feature for Goztepe this Friday, with the former set to be the bigger miss as Stoilov looks to find a suitable partner for Janderson in his preferred two-man attack.

Meanwhile, right wing-back Ogun Bayrak remains sidelined with a shoulder problem sustained last month and is not expected back until the middle of September.

Fatih Karagumruk possible starting lineup:

Grbic; Kurukalıp, Balkovec, Kurucuk, Cankaya; Ozcan, Kalpaklı, Johnson; Sivri, Cukur, Serginho

Goztepe SK possible starting lineup:

Lis; Santos, Heliton, Bokele; Kurtulan, Rhaldney, Dennis, Cherni; Olaitan; Janderson, Emersonn

We say: Fatih Karagumruk 0-2 Goztepe SK

Despite recent struggles in this fixture, Goztepe head into this encounter looking the sharper side and with greater depth, and another win on the road would reinforce their intent to better last season’s achievement.

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