Bursaspor have been performing above the expectations this season and flying high in the standings while Galatasaray are in the title race with their arch rivals Fenerbahce and Besiktas.

Bursaspor as mentioned above are doing pretty well staying on the 4th place in the standings. They seemed to build a balanced and a physically strong team which fits the Turkish Super League.

Galatasaray on the other hand have an offensively powerful squad which lacks quality in defenders and reliable central midfielders. They pay the price against well balanced teams with pacey and quality strikers but in general having an offensive mentality pays back against teams who play defensively with less counter attack ability; which there are more than few in the Turkish league. But up to now, Bursaspor seemed they are not one of those kinds and might cause some trouble to offensively oriented teams.

Bursaspor might be without their talented youngster Sercan Yildirim but they were doing well without him in most of the matches, anyway. (Edit on 18:40 – Sercan Yildirim might be playing.) (Edit on 18:51 – Sercan Yildirim will be on the pitch). By the way, the solid Romanian midfielder Kirita had a good come back to the team with scoring a goal on the last matchday and he will add strength to the midfield.

Galatasaray will welcome flu diagnosed Arda and suspended Keita back in the team; up to manager’s decision. This duo will add more quality to the offensive strength of the team but will lower the resistance in the midfield while it was below average, anyway. Long term injured Milan Baros will not be in the squad.

Bursaspor have a good fan support at home games, and they have been playing an important role in the teams good performance up to now. They will be one of the key factors in this match, no doubt.

As for the prediction; This will be a match between a well balanced team and an offensively oriented team. In these kind of matches when the balanced team are the hosts; it sounds reasonable to back them to cope with their opponents with the help of the home fans and the home pitch. I think there is a value on backing the home side in this one, too, but it would be wiser to go for goals prediction rather than result here. I think Bursaspor will have what it takes to cope with the offensive strength Galatasaray has and even if they lose it should be a narrow one.

Prediction
Goals | Under 2,5
Extras
Draw at HT | Draw at FT