Preview: Mersin v Galatasaray – Will the Lions roar in Adana?

Wilfried Bony
MADRID, SPAIN - AUGUST 18: Wesley Sneijder (R) of Galatasaray AS celebrates scoring their opening goal with teammate Lukas Podoloski (R) during the Santiago Bernabeu Trophy match between Real Madrid CF and Galatasaray at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on August 18, 2015 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

Galatasaray take on Mersin in Adana hoping to get their season back on track after a shaky few weeks.

The Lions will be without Burak Yilmaz who has become the latest player to join the Chinese Super League and to make matters worse Galatasaray will also be without striker Sinan Gumus leaving just Umut Bulut and Lukas Podolski available upfront.

Manchester City loanee Denayer is a doubt and Hamit Altintop is out injured.

Galatasaray have a great head to head record against Mersin but are without a win in 6 Super Lig away games.

Mersin are currently in the relegation zone but have managed to go two games without a defeat. Galatasaray are the obvious favourites but have kept a clean sheet in 2 of the 17 games with Mustafa Denizli  in charge.

The Lions are having a nightmare season and their away record is simply not good enough to take a risk on. What is likely however, is for there to be goals – lots of goals.

Prediction: Over 2.5 goals

MERSİN İDMANYURDU – GALATASARAY

Stadium: Mersin
Referee: Yaşar Kemal Uğurlu

Kick-Off: 17:00

Expected Starting XI’s
MERSİN İDMANYURDU: Muammer, Mitrovic, Mehmet Taş, Sadiku, Pedriel, Nurullah, Serkan, Eren, Vederson, Nakoulma, Tita.
MANAGER: Ümit Özat

GALATASARAY: Muslera, Linnes, Chedjou, Hakan, Olcan, Donk, Selçuk, Sabri, Sneijder, Podolski, Umut.
MANAGER: Mustafa Denizli