Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray face injury and lineup changes ahead of derby

Ahead of the Trendyol Süper Lig Week 9 derby between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, both clubs face significant roster adjustments. Fenerbahçe will be without key players Nathan Ake and Marco Asensio. Ake suffered a moderate strain and edema in his right hamstring during a UEFA Champions League match against Slavia Prague, with a recovery period estimated at approximately three weeks. Additionally, Marco Asensio has been diagnosed with a cartilage lesion behind his kneecap that requires surgical intervention.

Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk has implemented tactical changes for the matchup. Mario Lemina was selected to start in midfield in place of Gabriel Sara. New signing Aleksey Batrakov earned his first start in the derby. Other recent transfers, including Rafael Leao, Deniz Gül, and Lesley Ugochukwu, began the match on the bench. The match at RAMS Park featured tributes to the October 29 Republic Day, while fans displayed banners expressing solidarity with Gaza.