Galatasaray will be looking to solidify their place at the top of the Turkish Super Lig table when they host Kayserispor at the Nef Stadium on Friday evening.
The hosts have put themselves in a very strong position to win their first league title since 2019, while the visitors are down in seventh, with little to play for at this stage of the season.
Match preview
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Galatasaray are currently six points clear of Fenerbahce at the summit of the Turkish Super Lig table, meaning they are in a fantastic position, but the league title is by no means guaranteed, with 12 games still left to play.
The Conqueror of Europe have acquired 63 points from 26 games, and their form is showing no signs of slowing down as we approach the business end of the season, winning nine of their last 10 league matches.
Okan Buruk's side have been particularly impressive on home soil, having won 11 of their 13 matches at the Nef Stadium, losing just once, most recently defeating Adana Demirspor 2-0, with Fredrik Midtsjo and Nicolo Zaniolo scoring crucial late goals.
However, Galatasaray did falter in the quarter-finals of the Turkish Cup last time out, losing 3-2 at home to Istanbul Basaksehir, after having two goals controversially ruled out by VAR.
Buruk's side's recent slip up will give Kayserispor confidence heading into a tricky game, as will the fact they actually won the reverse fixture earlier this season, emerging 2-1 victors at the Kadir Has Stadium back in October.
All things considered, the Anatolian Star will be happy with their 2022-23 campaign, having finished 14th last season, although they are in no real position to challenge for the top three as we enter the final third of the season.
Cagdas Atan's side are 11 points off third-placed Besiktas, but they are in no danger of being dragged into a battle at the other end of the table, as they are sitting 20 points clear of the relegation zone.
Another potential boost for Kayserispor heading into the game is that they have been fantastic away from home all season, picking up 19 points on their travels, the fourth-best record in the division.
The Anatolian Star defeated reigning champions Trabzonspor 4-3 in their last league away match, before following that up with a 2-0 home win against Umraniyespor last time out, and so they head into Friday's encounter in fantastic form.
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Team News
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Galatasaray are likely to be without young attacking midfielder Yusuf Demir, who has missed the last two games through injury, and so Dries Mertens should keep his place in the side, playing just behind Mauro Icardi, in a 4-2-3-1 system.
Icardi is the top scorer for Buruk's side in the Turkish Super Lig this season, scoring nine goals, and the 30-year-old should be a sure-fire starter, having scored two goals in his last three matches.
Kayserispor forward Nurettin Korkmaz remains on the treatment table, so Mame Thiam is poised to play on the left in what should also be a 4-2-3-1 formation, after scoring the opening goal against Umraniyespor at the weekend.
Atan is unlikely to tinker too much with a winning formula, but midfielder Ali Karimi could be in line to return from a muscle injury, while Carlos Mane could get the nod in attack, having scored after being brought on as a substitute last time out.
Galatasaray possible starting lineup:
Muslera; Boey, Ayhan, Bardakci, Karatas; Midtsjo, Torreira, Zaniolo, Mertens, Akturkoglu; Icardi
Kayserispor possible starting lineup:
Bayazit, Uzodimma, Hosseini, Kolovetsios, Sazdagi; Kemen, Mensah, Bassan, Cardoso, Thiem; Mane
We say: Galatasaray 2-0 Kayserispor
Kayserispor have been impressive on the road this season, but they did come unstuck in their most recent away trip, losing 4-1 away at second-placed Fenerbahce.
With Galatasaray going strong at the top of the table, it would be unwise to back anything other than a home victory, and they could win by a comfortable margin.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Dominic Lund
