Alanyaspor vs Galatasaray

Galatasaray will be keen to regain their lead when they play Alanyaspor on Sunday since their grasp on the top place in the Turkish Super Lig is becoming less and less guaranteed.

With back-to-back draws in their previous two games, Cimbom has lost four points and is now only four points ahead of Fenerbahce, who are now in second place.

Due to the team's recent decline in performance, there is increasing pressure on both Galatasaray's championship defense and manager Okan Buruk.

Following a 2-2 tie with AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League, a goalless draw with Fenerbahce in the league, and a similar outcome against Konyaspor in the Turkish Cup, Galatasaray has lost all four of its recent competitive games.

Galatasaray's most frustrating result in recent weeks was arguably their 3-3 draw against Kasimpasa, where they surrendered the lead twice and conceded a late equalizer in the 85th minute.

Not long ago, a clash with Alanyaspor would have seemed like a routine victory for Galatasaray, given their dominant record in this fixture, including four consecutive league wins.

However, despite remaining unbeaten in the league after 25 games, this Galatasaray side has been unpredictable. The return of Alvaro Morata from injury, alongside Victor Osimhen, will provide a significant boost to their attacking options.

On the flip side, Alanyaspor are in a position where maintaining their current form is crucial to avoid being pulled into a relegation scrap. Under Sami Ugurlu’s management, they sit seven points clear of the drop zone, having secured three wins in their last seven league matches. However, they have also suffered four losses during this stretch, including a 3-1 defeat to Rizespor in their most recent outing.

Alanyaspor’s home form has been a cornerstone of their season, with 50% of their matches at the Bahcesehir School Arena resulting in victories. They have been strong on their own turf, losing only three times at home this season. Notably, just one of those defeats has come in their last six home games, a period during which they have claimed five wins.

That said, their defensive performances have raised some concerns, as they have conceded at least two goals in each of their last three home matches. This vulnerability at the back could pose a significant challenge against a Galatasaray side poised to welcome back key attacking players.