Turkey's top two sides - and arguably fiercest rivals - go head-to-head when Fenerbahce host Galatasaray in the Turkish Super Lig on Sunday.
The two Istanbul giants have won 51 Turkish titles combined in their illustrious histories, with Galatasaray one point ahead of their opponents heading into the Intercontinental derby.
Match preview
© Reuters
Having failed to win the Turkish Super Lig title since the 2013-14 season, Fenerbahce fans are beginning to dream of ending their barren run having hugely improved since appointing Jorge Jesus as their manager during the summer.
The former Benfica boss did not get off to the greatest start in charge after losing to Dynamo Kiev in a Champions League play-off tie, although the 68-year-old ultimately had the last laugh by finishing top of Group B in the Europa League, with Dynamo Kiev sitting bottom of the group on a solitary point.
Domestically, there has been very little to fault regarding Jesus's record, with Michy Batshuayi's brace against Antalyaspor in midweek temporarily moving them top of the table before Galatasaray edged back ahead of them 24 hours later.
As such, Sunday's clash could hardly be set up any more tantalisingly, with both teams desperate to get one over on each other as they look to reassert their dominance at the pinnacle of Turkish football.
© Reuters
Indeed, although Galatasaray won the Turkish title as recently as 2019, they suffered the ignominy of ending in their lowest-ever position of 13th under Fatih Terim and Domenec Torrent last season.
As such, even the most ardent of Gala supporters must be stunned by how quickly Okan Buruk has turned things around during the early stages of his tenure, with his side's 2-1 win against Ankaragucu moving them back to the summit on 36 points from 16 matches.
Like their forthcoming opponents, Galatasaray had to come from behind to claim all three points, with Baris Yilmaz justifying his selection from the start by cancelling out Taylan Antalyali's early opener, before Bafetimbi Gomis bagged what ultimately proved to be the winner on the half-hour mark.
Having lost both league fixtures against Fenerbahce last season, Buruk will be desperate to win his first Intercontinental derby in charge of the club, not only to please his fans but also to move four points clear of them and lay down a significant marker in terms of their quest to reclaim the title.
- W
- W
- L
- L
- W
- W
- L
- W
- W
- L
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- D
- L
- W
- W
- W
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Fenerbahce are set to remain without key forwards Joao Pedro and Enner Valencia due to knee injuries, meaning Batshuayi and Joshua King are likely to continue in tandem in attack.
Luan Peres and Nazim Sangare are also unlikely to feature due to fitness concerns, while Bruma and Mauricio Lemos remain ineligible having not been registered in Jesus's squad.
The likes of Ezgjan Alioski and Emre Mor are pushing for starts having made a positive impact from the bench during their side's 2-1 win against Antalyaspor last time out, but Jesus may not wish to make any changes to a winning side.
Galatasaray, meanwhile, will make the short trip to the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium without Emre Tasdemir, Kazimcan Karatas and Mathias Jensen, who are all out injured for the visitors.
Like his opposing manager, Buruk may decide to stick with the same starting XI which came from behind to win in midweek, with the likes of Dries Mertens and Milot Rashica hoping to make themselves club heroes in their first seasons at the club.
Fenerbahce possible starting lineup:
Bayindir; Osayi-Samuel, Aziz, Szalai, Kadioglu; Rossi, Arao, Crespo, Lincoln; King, Batshuayi
Galatasaray possible starting lineup:
Muslera; Dubois, Nelsson, Bardakci, Van Aanholt; Kutlu, Midtsjo; Yilmaz, Mertens, Rashica; Gomis
We say: Fenerbahce 1-1 Galatasaray
Any predictions for this match beyond numerous cards and plenty aggression on and off the pitch between two intense rivals are hard to make given how well both teams have been playing of late.
With so much on the line at the top of the table, it would be little surprise to see both teams settle for avoiding defeat should the match be heading towards that direction.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.