Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the fixtures of the 37th round of the Turkish Super Lig will be played on Sunday at the Gursel Aksel Stadium in Izmir, where local side Göztepe will host Galatasaray. Here's a tip on the outcome of this clash with attractive odds.
Match preview
Göztepe are still hoping to break into the European qualification zone, currently sitting eighth in the Turkish league table. However, after a crushing 3-6 defeat to Rizespor, the squad suffered a serious blow to their motivation, bringing an end to their four-match unbeaten streak. The home ground hasn’t been much of a fortress for Göztepe either—just one win in their last seven home outings highlights both instability and struggles on their own turf.
Göztepe have found it particularly tough against Galatasaray: they haven’t beaten the Istanbul giants since December 2019, losing all six of their most recent encounters. Furthermore, Göztepe have been defeated in five of their last six home matches against Galatasaray, which clearly demonstrates the gulf in class and mentality between the two sides.
Galatasaray have already clinched the league title this season, sealing the deal with a confident 3-0 win over Kayserispor and also securing the Turkish Cup to complete the double. The mood in the Galatasaray camp is electric—they have won five matches in a row across all competitions, all with clean sheets, showcasing a potent attack and rock-solid defense.
On the road, Galatasaray have been consistently successful: the Istanbul side have won five of their last six visits to Göztepe’s stadium, underlining their confidence and superior quality in this matchup. This will allow Galatasaray to feel comfortable and control the tempo of the game, even with the league title already wrapped up.
Probable line-ups
- Göztepe: A. Özçimen, M. Bokele, H. Tito, K. Günter, O. Bayrak, A. Dennis, A. İldiz, L. Nielsen, D. Tijanic, K. Kanatsizkus, Romulo
- Galatasaray: F. Muslera, A. Bardakcı, D. Sanchez, E. Elmalı, Gabriel, M. Lemina, L. Torreira, R. Sallai, V. Osimhen, B. Yılmaz, Y. Akgün
Match facts and head-to-head
- In the first round, Galatasaray beat their opponents 2-1
- The “Total Over 2.5” bet has landed in each of the last five meetings between these sides
- “Both teams to score” has also been a winner in the last five encounters
Prediction
Given current form, results, and head-to-head stats, we expect a confident win for Galatasaray. Göztepe have struggled at home, especially against this opponent, while the visitors have both motivation and quality on their side. Our prediction: Galatasaray to win at 1.75 odds.
