Newly crowned Turkish Super Lig champions Galatasaray will begin their victory celebrations with an away fixture against Goztepe at the Gürsel Aksel Stadium on Saturday, May 24, 2025.
The Istanbul giants secured the league title last week with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Kayserispor, putting the finishing touches on what has been described as a thoroughly deserved championship campaign. Despite having already clinched the title, Galatasaray are expected to maintain their competitive edge as they look to end the season on a high note.
Goztepe, meanwhile, enter their final home match of the season following a chaotic 6-3 defeat to Rizespor, which highlighted their defensive vulnerabilities. Manager Stanimir Stoilov will be hoping his side can produce a more resilient performance to conclude their home campaign positively after what has otherwise been an impressive return to Turkey's top flight.
Team News
The hosts will be without Djalma Silva and Ismail Koybasi due to injuries, with Lasse Nielsen expected to fill in at left wing-back. Ahmed Ildiz is likely to feature in midfield with Isaac Solet and Dogan Erdogan unavailable, while Juan has also been ruled out after picking up a knock.
For Galatasaray, Dries Mertens is expected to start in place of the suspended Gabriel Sara. Regular goalkeeper Fernando Muslera will miss the match through suspension, giving Gunay Guvenc an opportunity between the posts. Star striker Mauro Icardi remains sidelined with a long-term cruciate ligament injury and will not return until next season.
Head-to-Head Record
The historical matchup heavily favors the visitors, with Galatasaray winning all five of their most recent encounters against Goztepe. Their last meeting saw Galatasaray secure a 2-1 victory. All of their previous five clashes have featured over 2.5 goals and both teams finding the net.
Galatasaray enter the fixture in exceptional form, having won their last five matches across all competitions, scoring 17 goals while conceding just two. Goztepe's recent form has been more inconsistent, with two wins, one draw, and two losses in their last five outings.
The match kicks off at 9 am PT / 12 pm ET on Saturday, May 24, 2025.
