Galatasaray vs Eyüpspor: Kickoff time, team news and prediction as leaders eye bigger gap

Top-of-the-table Galatasaray return to Rams Park on Friday needing another three points to tighten their grip on the Süper Lig race. Eyüpspor arrive fighting to stay clear of the drop, hoping to halt the champions’ momentum in Istanbul.

Kickoff and stakes

The match kicks off Friday, February 13, 2026, at 12: 00 p. m. ET. A home win would make it four league victories in a row for Galatasaray and could push their advantage over the chasing pack toward six points as the season heads toward its decisive stretch. It also offers the leaders a chance to complete their first-ever league double over Eyüpspor after a 2-0 success in the reverse fixture.

The champions are again in a tight race with city rivals Fenerbahçe, with a resurgent Trabzonspor threatening to elbow into the picture. With a Champions League playoff against Juventus looming, banked points here would ease rotation decisions for Okan Buruk in the weeks ahead.

Form guide

Galatasaray’s 3-0 win at Rizespor last time out underscored their current command. The leaders have taken six wins from their last seven domestic outings since a Super Cup defeat earlier in the year. They are unbeaten in 11 home league matches this season (eight wins, three draws) and have not lost a home league fixture since late in the 2023-24 campaign. Over their last 29 home league games, they’ve posted 23 wins and six draws.

Their quick starts have been a theme: they’ve opened the scoring in four of their last five matches. That could be telling against Eyüpspor, who have conceded first in eight of their past nine league outings.

Eyüpspor’s trajectory has been bumpier. After a difficult start—just two wins in their first 13—they pieced together a five-match unbeaten run to open 2026 before a narrow 2-1 loss last weekend. They sit 15th, two points above the relegation line, and while away form improved recently (seven points from the last 12 available on the road), the early-season travel woes left them little margin for error.

Selection notes and injuries

Galatasaray welcome Mario Lemina back from suspension, adding bite and progression in midfield. Metahan Baltacı continues a nine-month ban and remains unavailable. Leroy Sané and Arda Unyay are still sidelined. At the back, Davinson Sánchez and Abdülkerim Bardakcı have been a steady pairing; Bardakcı is one booking away from suspension and will need to tread carefully.

Victor Osimhen is in a rich scoring vein with goals in five straight league matches. He still trails Paul Onuachu and Eldor Shomurodov by six in the Golden Boot race but has transformed Galatasaray’s threat in behind, especially when paired with Mauro Icardi.

For Eyüpspor, Luccas Claro has been absent since October due to an ankle issue, while Taras Stepanenko remains out for a sixth successive game. Their threadbare options in central defense and midfield could again push them toward a compact, counterpunching setup.

Tactical outlook

Expect Galatasaray to dominate the ball and territory, using Sánchez’s line-breaking passes and Lemina’s ball-winning to pin Eyüpspor deep. Early pressure is likely: the leaders have habitually forced turnovers high and converted them into quick chances. With Osimhen stretching defenses vertically and Icardi occupying center-backs inside the box, the hosts can threaten both over the top and through late-arriving runners.

Eyüpspor’s best route into the game is a low block with swift counters into wide areas, looking to isolate full-backs and draw fouls to relieve pressure. A disciplined first 30 minutes is essential; conceding early against this Galatasaray side has typically been terminal for visitors at Rams Park. Set pieces may also represent a rare avenue to snatch something, provided they can sustain defensive organization for long spells.

Key numbers

• Galatasaray: 52 points from 21 matches (16W, 4D, 1L), with a league-best +36 goal difference (50 scored, 14 conceded).
• Home fortress: Unbeaten in the league at home this season (W8, D3); 23W, 6D across the last 29 home league fixtures.
• Eyüpspor: 18 points (4W, 6D, 11L), 17 scored, 30 conceded; seven points from their last four away matches after losing six of the first seven on the road.
• Head-to-head: Galatasaray unbeaten in three prior top-flight meetings (2W, 1D), outscoring Eyüpspor 9-3.

Prediction

With form, firepower and home comfort all aligned—and with the added incentive to bank points before European duty—Galatasaray should have too much. Osimhen’s streak and the hosts’ fast starts point to a controlled, businesslike afternoon.

Prediction: Galatasaray 3-0 Eyüpspor.