Preview:Gaziantep vs. Galatasaray - prediction, team news, lineups

Turkish Super Lig champions Galatasaray kick off their title defence with a trip to Gaziantep on Friday night, aiming to extend their dominance over a side they have beaten six times in a row.

After a near-perfect 2024-25 campaign, Okan Buruk’s men will look to lay down a statement on opening weekend, but for Gaziantep, the fixture offers no room to hide as they attempt to rebuild after last season's chaos.

Match preview

Gaziantep survived their sixth straight season in the Turkish Super Lig, finishing 14th with just 45 points, avoiding relegation by eight points.

However, a poor run of form in the closing stages of the season cost Selcuk İnan his job as head coach in May, with Ibrahim Kursat Daloglu stepping in as caretaker for the final three fixtures, though results failed to improve.

Looking to steady the ship, the club has appointed experienced coach Ismet Tasdemir ahead of the new season, but preseason have failed to offer any positive hope of the struggles coming to an end.

Gaziantep are now winless in their last nine matches across all competitions, a run that stretches back to April when they edged past relegated Hatayspor 2-1 at home.

Since then, they have lost four and drawn three of their final seven league fixtures, while preseason brought a 3-2 defeat to Kayserispor and a goalless draw with Alanyaspor.

Their form heading into the opening weekend is worrying, and hopes of turning the tide against a dominant Galatasaray side appear slim, having lost each of their last six meetings with the Cimbom, including a 1-0 away win in February.

Gaziantep’s last triumph over the Istanbul giants came at home in 2022, but they will need a dramatic turnaround in performance if they are to repeat that feat on Friday night.

Meanwhile, Galatasaray, on the other hand, are coming off the high of a record-extending 25th Super Lig title, with the Istanbul giants sealing their third consecutive championship in dominant fashion.

They have strengthened significantly in the summer window ahead of this new season, with the blockbuster signing of Victor Osimhen for €75 million – a new Super Lig record – that has sent shockwaves through Turkish football.

The Nigerian striker scored 37 goals during his loan spell last season, becoming the highest-scoring foreign player in a single campaign, and his permanent arrival alongside Leroy Sane on a free transfer makes Galatasaray the favourites once again on the domestic scene, and a genuine quality in European competitions.

Having won each of their last six meetings against Gaziantep – including a 1-0 win away in February – Cimbom will be full of confidence heading into their opening game of the season.

A win here would help set the tone as they prepare to go toe-to-toe with Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce again, in what promises to be another fiery title race.

Gaziantep form (all competitions):

Galatasaray Turkish Super Lig form:

Galatasaray form (all competitions):

Team News

After losing a number of players from last season’s squad, including David Okereke, Bruno Viana and Halil Dervisoglu who came on loan, Gaziantep have moved to bolster the team via the transfer market.

Kevin Rodrigues joined on a free transfer from Kasimpasa, as did Juninho Bacuna from Al-Wehda and Myenty Abena from Spartak Moscow, while right winger Enver Kulasin was bought for a fee from Bosnian side Borac Banja Luka.

Galatasaray will head into the season without Fernando Muslera for the first time since 2011-12, with the goalkeeper leaving upon expiration of his contract, while Belgian forward Dries Mertens retired.

Ismail Jakobs, who spent last season on loan with Cimbom from Monaco, has seen his deal made permanent, just like Osimhen, while Sane joined on a free.

Mauro Icardi is still recovering from the cruciate ligament injury he suffered last season, though he is expected to be back a some point this month.

Gaziantep possible starting lineup:

Bozan; M'Bakata, Kizildag, Abena, Rodrigues; Soyalp, Ndiaye, Sorescu, Maxim, Kulasin; Boateng

Galatasaray possible starting lineup:

Guvenc; Ayhan, Sanchez, Bardakci, Emali; Torreira, Lemina; Sane, Sara, Kutucu; Osimhen

We say: Gaziantep 1-3 Galatasaray

The difference in quality between Gaziantep and Galatasaray will decide the game, as the visitors have firepower beyond what the hosts can withstand despite having the backing of home support.

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