ANKARA
Turkey’s Galatasaray have been seeking a home victory against arch-rivals Fenerbahce for five years as Lions last toppled the Yellow Canaries in Oct. 2014.
Saturday’s showdown will be the 11th derby in Galatasaray’s home ground, Turk Telekom Stadium, which opened on Jan. 15, 2011.
Since 2011, Fenerbahce earned three wins at the Turk Telekom Stadium. Meanwhile Galatasaray had four victories against Fenerbahce in their own venue.
Galatasaray last toppled Fenerbahce at home on Oct. 18, 2014. Dutch star Wesley Sneijder scored two goals in match of victory for the Lions 2-1.
Fenerbahce last beat Galatasaray in this stadium in April 2017 as Brazilian midfielder Josef de Souza’s goal in the injury time brought 1-0 victory for the visitors.
The last derby between Istanbul powerhouses at the Turk Telekom Stadium ended 2-2.
Galatasaray are set to host Fenerbahce on Saturday in Turkey’s top-tier football league.
The Super Lig clash will kick off at 8 p.m. local time (1700GMT).
Galatasaray, Fenerbahce reinforce offense each
In 2019 summer both teams signed new forwards to cement attacking positions.
Galatasaray transferred Colombian star Radamel Falcao, meanwhile Fenerbahce strengthened their offense with Kosovan striker Vedat Muriqi.
Falcao will be the major threat of the Lions in Saturday’s derby. He produced one goal in two Super Lig matches.
The player has been regarded as one of the most respected forwards in Europe as the Colombian international played for Porto, Atletico Madrid, Manchester United, Chelsea and Monaco.
The derby’s away team Fenerbahce will count on Muriqi.
A Fenerbahce regular, Muriqi scored three goals in five league appearances this season, made and impressing start.
Familiar faces, different jerseys
Galatasaray’s Turkish right back Sener Ozbayrakli could face his old team on Saturday.
Ozbayrakli was a Fenerbahce player from 2015 to 2019.
Meanwhile there are three ex-Galatasaray players in the Fenerbahce squad, Turkish defender Serdar Aziz, midfielder Tolga Cigerci and winger Garry Rodrigues from Cape Verde.
Aziz, Cigerci and Rodrigues helped Galatasaray win the Super Lig title in 2018.
Galatasaray market value bigger than Fenerbahce
According to the German football database website Transfermarkt, Galatasaray’s market value was $155.3 million.
Meanwhile Fenerbahce’s value tallied with $95.3 million.
Separately the most valuable player in the Super Lig, Jean Michael Seri, has been playing for Galatasaray.
Seri, 28, from Ivory Coast moved to Galatasaray in July.
He previously played for England’s Fulham.
With a market value of $28.5 million, Seri has also been the most valuable player in Galatasaray.
This season he scored one goal in three league appearances.
Fenerbahce’s most valuable player is Max Kruse. The German forward’s value was $13.6 million.
Kruse, 31, produced five assists in five Super Lig matches this season.
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