Eyüpspor vs Gaziantep FK Prediction: Pulat's Side Eye First Win in Tight MW2 Battle

Eyüpspor host Gaziantep FK at the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Stadium on 23 August 2026 for matchweek two of the Trendyol Super Lig and neither side has won yet. Eyüpspor sit 15th with zero points after a narrow opening defeat, while Gaziantep are in mid table on a single point from a draw. Both managers know a second successive failure to win would pile real pressure on regimes still working out their shapes and this is the first competitive meeting between Pulat and Rădoi.

Eyüpspor's only game was a 0-1 loss at Beşiktaş in matchweek one, defensively solid for long stretches but failing to register a single clear chance. Gaziantep drew 1-1 at home against Alanyaspor, falling behind early before a late equaliser salvaged a point, which was generous given how little they threatened.

Özhan Pulat, who replaced Atila Gerin on 1 July 2026, is without David Costa after the midfielder was sent off against Beşiktaş. His 4-2-3-1 is built for counter attacking transitions and without Costa the weight falls on Ahmed Abdullahi's aerial presence and hold up play up front, with Abdelhamid Sabiri likely dropping into the ten space to receive between the lines. That shift should free Lenny Pintor to exploit the wide space Sabiri vacates when he tucks in.

Mirel Rădoi, at Gaziantep since 22 April 2026, is short in midfield too: Badou Ndiaye is out long term and Ulrich Meleke is a doubt after picking up a knock against Alanyaspor. Rădoi's 3-4-2-1 generates a lot of possession (around 61 per cent in recent outings) but converting that into goals has been the problem. Deian Sorescu, Alexandru Maxim and Kacper Kozlowski, plus summer signing Trivante Stewart through the middle, will need to compensate for the missing bodies.

Eyüpspor under Pulat will sit in compact midfield blocks and try to spring quickly through Abdullahi and Sabiri. Without Costa, that block is softer in the middle, which could give Gaziantep more room in central areas if Rădoi's wing backs push high and outnumber Eyüpspor's wide midfielders. Maxim and Kozlowski in the half spaces are the main threat, both capable of finding runners through lines with one touch combinations in tight spaces and Stewart's runs beyond the last defender on the break add another dimension.

Meleke's doubtful status cuts the other way, though, since his absence weakens Gaziantep's defensive structure and could leave them exposed to Sabiri's through balls and Abdullahi, who is a danger at corners and free kicks given his height. If Rădoi can't control the midfield balance, Gaziantep may end up playing more directly, which is exactly where Eyüpspor want to drag this game.

Eyüpspor have won three of the last four competitive meetings against Gaziantep, including both 2025/26 fixtures: a 2-1 win on the road and a 3-0 win at home, with Gaziantep historically struggling at the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Stadium.

Set pieces could easily settle this, given how unconvincing both attacks have been so far. Eyüpspor need to be alert to Gaziantep's aerial options from wide deliveries, while Abdullahi is dangerous when set piece clearances drop inside the box. An early Eyüpspor goal would let Pulat drop deep and use the space behind Gaziantep's advancing wing backs, which suits his counter setup perfectly and Gaziantep's injury concerns make dead ball defending doubly important for them.

We predict Eyüpspor 2-1 Gaziantep FK. Gaziantep's midfield absences tip the balance further toward Eyüpspor and Costa's suspension hurts too but Abdullahi and Sabiri have enough between them on the break to punish a team that carries the ball as much as Rădoi's does. Gaziantep have real creativity in Maxim and Kozlowski and Stewart will find space as Eyüpspor sit deep late on but Eyüpspor should be two goals up before Gaziantep push for a way back into it.