Galatasaray will seek to continue their perfect start to the Turkish Super Lig season when they host Gaziantep at Rams Park on Tuesday. With four consecutive wins under their belt, the reigning champions are in red-hot form as they aim to defend their league title. On the other hand, Gaziantep, currently sitting in 13th place, will be eager to recover from back-to-back losses and turn their fortunes around. The visitors face an uphill task against one of the toughest sides in the division, but they will be hoping to cause an upset and secure a rare victory.
Galatasaray have enjoyed a near-flawless start to their campaign, demonstrating their intent to capture a third straight Super Lig title. The Turkish giants have picked up maximum points from their opening four matches, asserting their dominance over their rivals. They began their title defense with back-to-back 2-1 victories over Hatayspor and Konyaspor, showing resilience and composure in tight contests.
However, it was in their third match against Adana Demirspor that Galatasaray truly showcased their attacking prowess, cruising to a 5-1 victory. This statement win before the international break sent a strong message to the rest of the league: Galatasaray remain a force to be reckoned with. Despite the two-week layoff, the champions showed no signs of rustiness when they resumed their league campaign with a commanding 5-0 victory over Caykur Rizespor at Rams Park.
The recent victory over Rizespor featured goals from a host of players, underlining the depth and quality within Galatasaray's squad. Defenders Davidson Sanchez and Abdulkerim Bardakci got on the scoresheet alongside midfield maestro Gabriel Sara and veteran forwards Dries Mertens and Baris Yilmaz. This variety in goal-scoring options has been crucial to Galatasaray’s success, making them unpredictable and difficult for opponents to defend against.
Galatasaray's form at home has been particularly impressive. Saturday's triumph extended their dominant home record, which has seen them win 33 of their last 35 league matches at Rams Park, with just one draw and one loss during that period. This exceptional home form has made Rams Park a fortress, where few teams have managed to leave with points. Heading into Tuesday's game, Galatasaray will undoubtedly be confident of continuing their winning streak, as they aim to further solidify their position at the top of the table.
Galatasaray also boast a favorable head-to-head record against Gaziantep, having won their last four encounters with the visitors. Their most recent meeting, which took place in January, saw Galatasaray come from behind to secure a 2-1 victory. Despite going a goal down, they showed their fighting spirit to turn the game around, with Wilfried Zaha leveling the score before Baris Yilmaz netted a dramatic 89th-minute winner.
This history of success against Gaziantep will give the reigning champions further confidence as they prepare for Tuesday's clash. In the past few seasons, Galatasaray have consistently found ways to break down Gaziantep’s defense, and they will be looking to do so once again. With their attacking firepower in full flow, they are likely to test Gaziantep's backline from the outset.
In contrast to Galatasaray's blistering form, Gaziantep have struggled to find consistency in the early stages of the season. After securing a narrow 1-0 win in their opening fixture against newly-promoted Bodrum, the visitors have since suffered back-to-back defeats. Their first loss came at the hands of Samsunspor in what was a disappointing performance in their opening home match. Despite creating chances, they were unable to find the back of the net and eventually fell to a 1-0 defeat.
Following the international break, Gaziantep's struggles continued as they suffered a narrow 3-2 loss away to Sivasspor. Although Alexandru Maxim’s penalty and a late goal from Kenan Kodro provided a glimmer of hope, it was not enough to prevent a second consecutive defeat. Gaziantep’s inability to defend effectively has cost them dearly in these recent matches, and they will need to tighten up at the back if they are to stand any chance of getting a result against Galatasaray.
One positive for Gaziantep has been their ability to score on the road. Despite their recent defeats, they have found the net in each of their last seven away league matches, highlighting their potential to trouble opposition defenses. However, the challenge they face on Tuesday is of a different magnitude. Galatasaray’s defense has proven to be solid, particularly at home, meaning that Gaziantep will need to be clinical in front of goal if they are to cause an upset.
Gaziantep’s recent away form had been encouraging before their loss to Sivasspor, with three consecutive wins on the road in the top flight. However, the defeat to Sivasspor has dented their momentum, and they now face the daunting task of trying to beat Galatasaray on their home turf. The last time Gaziantep managed to defeat Galatasaray was back in March 2022 when they triumphed on home soil. Since then, their attempts to claim victory against the Turkish giants have been unsuccessful.
Tuesday’s game will present Gaziantep with a significant challenge. Galatasaray’s rampant form and their impeccable home record make them overwhelming favorites, and Gaziantep will need to produce a near-perfect performance to secure a positive result. Defensively, they must be disciplined and organized, as any lapses in concentration will be punished by Galatasaray’s potent attack.
On the offensive end, much of Gaziantep’s hopes will rest on the shoulders of players like Alexandru Maxim and Kenan Kodro, who have been among the goals recently. Maxim, in particular, will be key to Gaziantep’s chances of success, as his creativity and composure from set pieces could provide opportunities for the visitors to strike.
Galatasaray's Depth and Key Players
One of Galatasaray’s greatest strengths this season has been the depth of their squad. Manager Okan Buruk has been able to rotate his lineup without any drop in performance, thanks to the quality available to him across all positions. In defense, Davidson Sanchez and Abdulkerim Bardakci have formed a solid partnership, while Gabriel Sara has pulled the strings in midfield, dictating play and creating chances for the forwards.
Dries Mertens, despite being one of the older members of the squad, continues to play a vital role in attack, using his experience and technical ability to break down defenses. The Belgian forward has already opened his account for the season and will be looking to add to his tally against Gaziantep. Alongside Mertens, younger talents like Baris Yilmaz have also stepped up, showing that Galatasaray have a balanced mix of youth and experience.
With such a strong squad at his disposal, Buruk has the luxury of making tactical adjustments depending on the situation. This flexibility has made Galatasaray a formidable opponent, as they can adapt their style of play based on their opponent's weaknesses. Whether they choose to dominate possession or play on the counter-attack, Galatasaray have the tools to execute their game plan effectively
As the season progresses, Galatasaray’s sights will be firmly set on winning another Super Lig title. Their performances so far suggest that they are well-equipped to achieve that goal. The team’s balance, depth, and resilience make them the team to beat, and their perfect start to the campaign has only reinforced their status as favorites.
Tuesday’s match against Gaziantep presents another opportunity for Galatasaray to extend their winning run and maintain their momentum at the top of the table. While Gaziantep have the potential to cause problems, particularly on the counter-attack, it is difficult to see them upsetting the reigning champions in their current form.
For Gaziantep, the focus will be on producing a disciplined and spirited performance. If they can stay compact defensively and take advantage of any opportunities that come their way, they may be able to keep the game competitive. However, given Galatasaray’s recent dominance, anything other than a home win would be a major surprise.
