Preview:Galatasaray vs Caykur Rizespor - prediction, team news, lineups

Reigning champions Galatasaray will look to maintain their perfect start to the Turkish Super Lig season when they host Caykur Rizespor at Rams Park on Saturday.

Okan Buruk’s side have won each of their first three matches, netting a league-high 10 goals, while remaining one of just three teams yet to concede.

Match preview

Galatasaray have opened the campaign in ruthless fashion, easing past Gaziantep and Fatih Karagumruk with 3-0 victories before dismantling Kayserispor 4-0 in their most recent outing.

Record signing Victor Osimhen got off the mark for the season, new signing Leroy Sane celebrated his first goal for the club, and makeshift winger Eren Elmali struck twice in the first half to set the tone for a dominant win.

For a side that has lifted the last three Super Lig titles, suffered only one defeat in the previous campaign, and famously became the first centurions in Turkish football history with a 100-point haul in 2023-24, Buruk’s men look determined to scale even greater heights.

Their next assignment is a home meeting with Rizespor, and Cimbom will be confident of extending both their six-match winning streak over the visitors and their 19-game unbeaten home run in the Super Lig.

Galatasaray’s last league defeat at Rams Park came against fierce rivals Fenerbahce, who snatched a narrow 1-0 win on May 19, 2024, in the closing stages of Cimbom’s centurion season.

As for Rizespor, their early-season form offers little encouragement of an upset, with Ilhan Palut’s men struggling to shake off the issues that plagued their pre-season.

The Black Sea outfit failed to win any of their four friendlies, losing three and drawing one, while conceding nine goals and scoring just four, a fragility they carried into the league, with a 3-0 home defeat on the opening weekend followed by a frustrating goalless draw away at Alanyaspor.

Their fixture last weekend was postponed, after opponents Istanbul Basaksehir were granted extra rest days for their Conference League qualifier, giving Rizespor a two-week break to regroup.

However, considering they have shipped at least three goals on each of their last four visits to Rams Park, the odds remain firmly stacked against them.

Galatasaray Turkish Super Lig form:

Galatasaray form (all competitions):

Caykur Rizespor Turkish Super Lig form:

Team News

Both sides head into the fixture with close to full squads available, leaving both managers spoiled for choice.

For Galatasaray, Buruk faces a welcome selection dilemma, with him having to make a decision to either start Osimhen as the lone striker or pair him with Mauro Icardi, who was a substitute last time out.

However, Rizespor will not have the option of playing Turkish forward Halil Dervisoglu, who is on loan from Galatasaray, as rules do not permit him to face his parent club.

The visitors are expected to have Ali Sowe as center-forward once again, with the Gambian looking to score the team’s first league goal of the season.

Galatasaray possible starting lineup:

Guvenc; Sallai, Sanchez, Bardakci, Jakobs; Torreira, Sara; Sane, Akgun, Elmali; Osimhen

Caykur Rizespor possible starting lineup:

Canpolat; Sahin, Akaydin, Mocsi, Hojer; Papanikolaou, Pala; Olawoyin, Laci, Mihaila; Sowe

We say: Galatasaray 4-0 Caykur Rizespor

Galatasaray will feel bullish as they welcome a Rizespor side yet to score in the league this season, lacking inspiration across all departments.

The hosts boast far greater firepower, with the likes of Icardi and Osimhen capable of punishing any lapse in defence, which is why we are predicting a thrashing of the visitors.

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