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

Out-of-form Hatayspor host defending Turkish Super Lig champions Galatasaray at the New Hatay Stadium in the competition's 12th round on Saturday.

Beaten in their last three matches, the home side look to end the table-topping club's three-month winning sequence in the league.

Match preview

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Hatayspor may not be in immediate danger of slipping into the relegation zone in the Turkish top division, but they are veering perilously close to the bottom four.

This is an upshot of a three-game losing run in the league, with the latest coming at 19th-placed Samsunspor, who are seemingly resurgent under new boss Markus Gisdol.

That 2-1 loss for Volkan Demirel's troops followed defeats by Fenerbahce (4-2) and Kayserispor (2-1), seeing them slide to ninth place after going the opening eight gameweeks undefeated.

Especially striking has been the inability to prevent opponents from scoring, with the concession of eight goals in the ongoing run of defeats outdoing the seven conceded in the first eight rounds.

It remains to be seen if Star of the South find a second wind against table-topping Galatasaray as they avoid being sucked into the relegation battle — they are currently four points clear of 17th-placed Pendikspor.

Their visitors will not be accepting opponents, with Fenerbahce breathing down the neck of last season's champions.

Aside from dropped points in Europe to Bayern Munich (two defeats) and Copenhagen, only Kayserispor have stopped Okan Buruk's team from securing maximum points in 2023-24.

That goalless encounter in August still counts as Gala's only blemish in the defence of their title, and they are keen to extend their domestic 10-game winning sequence.

Buruk will hope for little or no European hangover for the away side, who gave everything defensively for 79 minutes in Bavaria until Harry Kane broke the deadlock with time running out.

Having leapfrogged Fener last weekend — the Yellow Canaries were beaten by Trabzonspor — Galatasaray are keen to retain their point advantage on the second-placed side.

Team News

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Joelson Fernandes's dismissal in second-half stoppage time against Samsunspor rules out the forward against the league leaders through suspension.

Fernandes is Hatayspor's only absentee, although Demirel's side will assess Faouzi Ghoulam, who went off injured last weekend — Oguzhan Matur could make his second start if the Algerian is not passed fit.

Buruk has no injured stars to worry about, even if Angelino may not feature on Saturday after going off with 12 minutes remaining on Wednesday night at the Allianz Arena.

Wilfried Zaha netted a brace in last weekend's 2-1 win over Kasimpasa, and the wide attacker should start on Saturday.

With four of Mauro Icardi's 10 league strikes having been game-clinching goals, the centre-forward could decide this weekend's encounter.

Hatayspor possible starting lineup:

Bekaj; Alici, Kilama, Demir, Matur; Massanga, Aabid; Rivas, Saglam, Ze; Dadashov

Galatasaray possible starting lineup:

Muslera; Boey, Nelsson, Sanchez, Bardakci; Ayhan, Torreira; Ziyech, Akturkoglu, Zaha; Icardi

We say: Hatayspor 0-2 Galatasaray

Galatasaray have conceded just one road goal in six matches, and they could keep another away clean sheet with a routine win over off-form Hatayspor this weekend.

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