Istanbul Basaksehir — Galatasaray : Match Preview and Prediction for October 18,2025

Basaksehir’s Strategic Shift

Last season, Istanbul Basaksehir placed significant reliance on their key players. What was the outcome? They ended up selling a couple of core players and finally managed to offload Piatek, who had a disastrous performance towards the end of the season. This marked the beginning of a new chapter for Istanbul.

Decline in Performance and Lack of Attack

The unfortunate reality is that this former Turkish champion has significantly declined. They couldn’t even qualify for the main stage of the Conference League, which is a major red flag. One has to wonder what is happening with the squad in the league, considering they’ve managed only one win in seven rounds so far. A critical issue is the complete lack of offensive prowess within the team. On average, Istanbul scores less than one goal per match, which is nothing short of a catastrophe. Shomurodov currently stands as the team’s primary hope, but he has received virtually no support this season.

Galatasaray’s Dominant Squad Assembly

Once again, Galatasaray has assembled a squad that is demonstrably superior to all others in Turkey. Credit goes to the club’s leadership and management for cultivating such a shrewd approach. Furthermore, they’ve pulled off one of the most high-profile transfers in the history of Turkish football.

Strategic Player Acquisition and Unstoppable Momentum

Where does this leave Fenerbahçe, who gambled on Mourinho? What’s truly needed is a local coach who commands genuine authority. As a result, Galatasaray only dropped points for the first time by the eighth round. With world-renowned players like Gündoğan, Sané, Icardi, and Osimhen, the results speak for themselves, including a notable victory over Liverpool. These are seasoned stars, many of whom weren’t called up for their national teams, allowing them ample rest. Consequently, Galatasaray can afford minimal squad rotation, and in Turkey, the team is currently breezing past its opponents with ease.