Arch-rivals Fenerbahce and Galatasaray are locked on 43 points at the summit of the Turkish Super Lig as the two sides prepare for Sunday’s showdown at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.
Both teams possess a record of 14 wins, one draw and one loss after 16 matches, with Fenerbahce leading Galatasaray thanks to their superior goal difference.
Galatasaray maçı hazırlıklarımıza başladık. 💪 pic.twitter.com/CRuwKiLHtY— Fenerbahçe SK (@Fenerbahce) December 21, 2023
Galatasaray maçı hazırlıklarımıza başladık. 💪 pic.twitter.com/CRuwKiLHtY
With a 14-point gap between the frontrunners and the rest of the league, we are set for an intriguing two-horse title race between Turkey’s biggest clubs.
Fenerbahce head into Sunday’s clash on the back of a dramatic 4-3 win against Kayserispor, with Michy Batshuayi netting a hat-trick on Wednesday.
However, the victory came at a cost, as Fred and Mert Hakan Yandas were both shown a red in second-half stoppage team, meaning they will miss Sunday’s derby through suspension.
The Yellow Canaries have now won each of their last four matches across all competitions, scoring over 2.5 goals on every occasion.
It is also worth noting that Fenerbahce have bagged a whopping 44 goals in 16 league games this term, making them the highest scorers by some distance.
Meanwhile, Galatasaray secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Fatih Karagumruk on Wednesday, racking up 18 shots while limiting their visitors to just two attempts on target.
Okan Buruk’s side have now won each of their last four Super Lig clashes, scoring 10 times while conceding a solitary goal in the process.
When you look at the bigger picture, Galatasaray have won 14 of their previous 15 league encounters, keeping eight clean sheets along the way.
Having conceded a measly nine goals in 16 league outings this season, Buruk’s side boast the best defensive record by a considerable margin.
Head-to-head: Across the past four meetings between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray, both sides have picked up two wins.
In terms of the wider picture, however, the Yellow Canaries have managed to win just two of their previous 12 matches against their bitter rivals.
Team news: Fenerbahce’s Edin Dzeko has bagged 12 goals and four assists in 15 league games this season, while Dusan Tadic has notched seven goals and six assists.
As for Galatasaray, Mauro Icardi has registered 12 goals and five assists in the league, with Kerem Akturkoglu contributing five goals and six assists.
The Intercontinental Derby invariably produces fireworks both on and off the pitch, meaning Sunday’s clash will be an eventful affair.
Forebet predicts that Galatasaray will claim the Istanbul bragging rights this time around, notching a narrow clean-sheet victory.