Unforgettable Predictions Ahead of the Galatasaray – Besiktas Match

In the 10th week of the Trendyol Super League, leaders Galatasaray are set to face Besiktas today. Both teams, having completed their preparations, are focused on the challenging 90 minutes at RAMS Park. Former Galatasaray captain Erdal Keser and former Besiktas libero Rahim Zafer shared their thoughts with Spor Arena on the monumental derby. The national players, reflecting on both teams’ recent performances, also highlighted who may have the upper hand.

Galatasaray, one of the undefeated teams in the league, will take on Besiktas in this epic derby. The yellow-reds, with 25 points, aim to extend their lead in the championship race. Besiktas, led by Dutch coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst, is determined to stay in contention for the title. Keser and Zafer, who achieved many successes with their clubs, made valuable assessments ahead of the critical match.

ERDAL KESER: “THERE’S NO REAL COMPETITION AGAINST GALATASARAY IN TURKEY RIGHT NOW!”
Galatasaray has an incredibly successful and high-quality team. Coach Okan Buruk is achieving great things because managing such a team is also crucial. This is a superb result of teamwork, and I believe it will also drive Galatasaray’s success in Europe. Right now, in Turkey, I don’t see any real competition for Galatasaray. Okan Buruk is a very successful coach, and I’m very pleased with his performance. He knows how to motivate his players effectively. This is why I believe Galatasaray’s chances for the title this season are 100 percent. They need to carry this increased quality, boosted by the addition of top players, into European competitions. If this squad continues to play this way, it wouldn’t surprise me if Galatasaray reaches the finals in European tournaments.

“VICTOR OSIMHEN IS CLASSY AND HUNGRY TO PLAY”
I think Lucas Torreira will make a difference in the derby, taking control in midfield. Mauro Icardi and Victor Osimhen will also contribute with their goals. Additionally, goalkeeper Fernando Muslera will play a crucial role in the derby. Osimhen is a classy and fit player, ready and eager to play in the derby. Icardi, despite his age, has a high goal-scoring rate. So, I would always recommend starting both forwards in the lineup. Icardi and Osimhen should start as a pair, and the midfield should be designed accordingly. The 4-4-2 system could be a good choice for this setup. I believe Galatasaray would be even more successful with this formation.

“A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN QUALITY, GALATASARAY IS THE DERBY FAVORITE”

Besiktas is a team performing better compared to last season. Coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst has done a commendable job and managed to achieve results quickly, effectively turning things around in such a short time. This puts them on a good path, and Giovanni van Bronckhorst and his team are likely to achieve even greater success in the coming years. You can never guarantee the winner in a derby, yet I believe there’s a significant difference in quality between the two teams. Therefore, for me, Galatasaray is 100 percent the favorite. Galatasaray holds a substantial edge in terms of squad quality. Additionally, Galatasaray fans provide incredible support to their team, playing a crucial “12th player” role that helps the team progress remarkably well. I believe this fan support will give Galatasaray an added advantage in this match as well.RAHIM ZAFER: IMPROVED RELATIONSHIP AMONG COACH, PLAYERS, AND MANAGEMENT

The coaching change, improved harmony in management, quality new signings, and the successful adaptation of these players have eliminated the issues that plagued the team last year. Additionally, there’s a better relationship between the coach, players, and management compared to before. Besiktas has reached a better level this year and is playing more noticeable football. Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s football approach is significantly different from last season’s coaches. The quality of incoming players has been crucial as they’ve contributed a lot to the team. For instance, Gabriel Paulista’s arrival played a significant role in solidifying the defense. Rafa Silva, Immobile, El-Musrati, and Muci also contributed significantly. The strong bond among players highlights this season’s difference. While there are still weaknesses, they’re at a good level. However, when Besiktas occasionally resorts to a defensive style to secure the score, they risk losing control of the game to the opponent. If Giovanni van Bronckhorst can overcome these situations, I believe Besiktas will perform even better this season.

“BESIKTAS MUST STAY IN THE TITLE RACE UNTIL THE WINTER BREAK”

Giovanni van Bronckhorst has instilled confidence in his players, as it’s crucial for players to believe in their coach for the team’s success. The more the players believe in the coach, the higher the team’s motivation. Since the start of the season, Gio has significantly boosted team morale and made his trust in his players evident. He strives to be fair by giving everyone a chance, which is incredibly important. As long as Gio maintains this fairness, he will succeed. Gio has established the team’s structure and playing style to a large extent. Everything seems to be going well for Besiktas at the moment, but it’s essential they remain within reach of the league and title race until the winter break. Gio is likely to request reinforcements for certain positions at that point. Although some players’ performances aren’t at the desired level, I believe Besiktas, despite minor gaps, is progressing in the right direction.

“GALATASARAY, UNDEFEATED BUT VULNERABLE TO CONCEDING GOALS”

I don’t think the home factor will affect players as much nowadays, yet Galatasaray’s fans make their presence felt. Winning against a team like Lyon away provided significant morale for the team before the Besiktas match. Besiktas needs to establish control and pace in this derby. They shouldn’t step onto the field with a purely defensive mindset, despite playing away. Galatasaray is a very in-form team and remains undefeated in the league. They have a lot of self-confidence, having recently won their European Cup match at home. Despite all these strengths, Galatasaray is also a team that can concede goals rather easily.

“THE 5-0 VICTORY IN THE SUPER CUP WILL BOOST TEAM MORALE”

The 5-0 win in the Super Cup will undoubtedly elevate Besiktas’s team morale. The pressure from the Super Cup loss will make this match challenging for Galatasaray, who still feel the weight of that scoreline, even without Icardi and Osimhen in that game. Therefore, I expect Galatasaray to play with a lot of intensity. Their strongest feature is imposing their game and securing the score quickly. Besiktas must withstand this pressure and keep possession as much as possible. As in the Super Cup match, Besiktas should maintain high pressure in the final third. With a key player like Lucas Torreira on Galatasaray’s side, Besiktas needs to control the midfield well to return with points.

“GALATASARAY WILL FOCUS ON RAFA SILVA, BUT GEDSON FERNANDES…”

Gedson Fernandes has shown a noticeable evolution under Giovanni van Bronckhorst compared to last season, playing a more impactful defensive role while contributing offensively with surprise runs into the box. Galatasaray will focus on Rafa Silva, but Gedson’s ability to appear suddenly in crucial moments is noteworthy. Meanwhile, Rafa Silva is the linchpin for Besiktas, leading in assist rates and goal conversion. Semih Kilicsoy has also recently found his form and could be highly influential in this match.

“YUNUS AKGUN MIGHT CREATE TROUBLE FOR BESIKTAS THROUGH SVENSSON’S SIDE”

On Galatasaray’s side, they have highly dynamic players like Lucas Torreira and Yunus Akgun. Given Akgun’s agility and quick play, Besiktas might face challenges from attacks on Jonas Svensson’s side, and Gio must prepare accordingly. Currently, Galatasaray is the most comfortable team in the league; even if they drop points, they have the ability to control the league’s direction. With a point gap widening, Galatasaray will play confidently, facing less pressure than Besiktas. This promises to be a thrilling game that everyone will enjoy, and hopefully, Besiktas will emerge victorious.