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Istanbul football arch-rivals Galatasaray and Besiktas is going to battle today in a pivotal 25th-round Super Lig clash at Tupras Stadium in Istanbul. Kickoff is scheduled for 20:00 local time, with Ozan Ergun set to officiate.
Galatasaray top the table with 58 points from 24 matches — 18 wins, 4 draws, 2 losses, holding a four-point lead over nearest challengers. Besiktas sits on fourth place with 46 points after 13 wins, 7 draws, and 4 defeats.
This weekend’s encounter will mark the 360th meeting between the Istanbul giants. The rivalry dates back to August 22, 1924, when Besiktas won 2-0 at Taksim Stadium.
Of the 359 previous encounters, Galatasaray have won 128 matches, Besiktas 116, and 115 ended in draws. Galatasaray have scored 500 goals in the rivalry, with Besiktas netting 473. The first fixture this season at RAMS Park ended in a 1-1 draw.
Galatasaray head into the derby without major absences. Players who missed last week’s league game, including Yunus Akgun and Roland Sallai, are available if coach Okan Buruk decides to start them.
Defenders Abdulkerim Bardakci and Eren Elmali are on the yellow-card suspension threshold; receiving a booking would see them miss the next league match against RAMS Basaksehir.
The yellow-red side also boast the league’s highest-scoring attack, with 58 goals in 24 matches, led by Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, who has scored 10 goals this season and found the net in 6 of his last 7 league appearances.
Galatasaray’s pressing game, utilising Osimhen, Yunus Akgun, Baris Alper Yilmaz, Leroy Sane, and Noa Lang, supported by midfielders Gabriel Sara, Lucas Torreira, and Mario Lemina, has produced 11 goals from high pressing situations, making them one of Europe’s most effective teams in this category.
Besiktas have been unbeaten in their last 17 matches across all competitions, including the Super Lig and Turkish Cup. Recent wins include decisive victories over Goztepe and Kocaelispor, with clean sheets in the last two league games.
At Tupras Stadium, Besiktas have a strong record against Galatasaray since the stadium’s reopening in 2016, winning 7 of 9 derbies, scoring 16 goals and conceding only 6. The home advantage and historical dominance add extra weight to their title ambitions.
Besiktas will be without defender Emirhan Topcu and forward El Bilal Toure due to injuries.
Midfielder Salih Ucan is also at risk of suspension and will miss next week’s league match against Genclerbirligi if he receives a yellow card.
Captain Orkun Kokcu and South Korean striker Oh Hyeon-gyu are expected to lead the Black Eagles’ attack.
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