Trabzonspor host Galatasaray on 19 September 2026 in matchweek 6 of the Turkish Super Lig, with extra weight added by Thomas Reis taking charge of the home side for the first time after being appointed on 17 September to replace Fatih Tekke - meaning he goes into this with no prior record against Okan Buruk. Galatasaray arrive as unbeaten league leaders with 13 points from five matches, while Trabzonspor sit ninth on seven.
Trabzonspor head into this on mixed form, their last five results reading D W L W L, with the most recent a 0-1 defeat away to Konyaspor on 12 September. Galatasaray have been far more consistent, going D W W W W across the same stretch including a narrow 1-0 win over Kocaelispor that kept them top.
Reis already faces a difficult team selection. Malinovskyi, Okay Yokuşlu, Tim Jabol-Folcarelli, Arseniy Batagov and Noah Saviolo are all out injured, stripping midfield of experience and compactness before his first whistle has even blown. The absences will likely force adjustments to his expected 4-2-3-1 shape and may leave the high press undermanned in central areas.
Galatasaray are without Victor Osimhen, who had scored six goals in five matches before a groin injury ruled him out, with Mario Lemina, Wilfried Singo and Günay Güvenç also unavailable. Without Osimhen, the attacking load falls on Rafael Leão and Barış Alper Yılmaz, with Gabriel Sara and Lucas Torreira as the midfield foundation behind them.
Reis is expected to stick with the 4-2-3-1 built around high pressing and rapid transitions. Mohamed Salah, with four league goals and an assist already this season, will look to exploit space behind Galatasaray's full backs, while Fabinho anchors the midfield and Ernest Muci and Aral Şimşir offer alternatives higher up. The injury list is the real problem: with so many central players missing, the press may lack the compactness it needs, giving Galatasaray room to play through midfield rather than being hurried into mistakes.
Buruk's side will look to find Leão and Barış Alper Yılmaz in dangerous positions, with Torreira as the midfield anchor and Sara providing progressive passing from deeper areas. Losing a traditional striker does cost them some directness but Trabzonspor's defensive absences more than offset that.
The clearest individual matchup is Salah against Galatasaray's left sided defenders. If he can get in behind early, Reis's side will stay in the game, if Galatasaray control the middle third instead, this could get away from Trabzonspor before half-time.
Galatasaray have won four of the last six meetings between these sides, with one draw. With both clubs carrying defensive absences, Trabzonspor's depleted midfield and centre back options leave them exposed to second ball situations and near post deliveries, while Galatasaray are also missing some aerial presence at dead ball situations. Galatasaray's greater squad depth should give them the edge in the closing stages if the game remains tight.
Galatasaray to win 2-1. The visitors' unbeaten start means they should absorb Trabzonspor's early pressure before imposing their own game, with Leão and Barış Alper Yılmaz creating chances. Sara and Leão give them enough to break down a Trabzonspor defence missing multiple regulars, even without Osimhen. Salah or Muci could get one back on the counter but Buruk's side look capable of seeing this out.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
