Turkish Super Lig leaders, Galatasaray, will set sights on retaining top spot when they host Antalyaspor on Monday evening.
The hosts' European dreams came to an end last week after their defeat to Sparta Prague in the Europa League knockout playoffs, while their visitors find themselves on a concerning four-match winless streak in the league.
Match preview
Galatasaray can now set their sights solely on the Super Lig title race after their European adventure came to a crashing end on Thursday with a 4-1 defeat to Sparta Prague.
The Lions had a first-leg advantage, having won 3-2 in Turkey, and seemed on course for qualification after a 1-1 draw in the first half in Czech Republic.
However, the second half saw them collapse like a house of cards, conceding three goals between the 74th minute and stoppage time.
Despite the European disappointment, they maintained their two-point lead at the top of the Super Lig table with a convincing 3-0 win over Ankaragucu in their last league outing.
With 12 games left to play, Okan Buruk will be hoping his side can maintain their perfect home record when they welcome Antalyaspor on Monday.
The Lions are unbeaten in the last 16 encounters between both teams, winning the last three.
Meanwhile, Antalyaspor are in dire straits, having squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 against bottom-placed Istanbulspor last time out.
After starting the year with an impressive seven-match unbeaten run across all competitions, the Scorpions have hit a wall, failing to win in their last five matches, including a 2-1 defeat to Besiktas in the Turkish Cup.
This poor run has effectively ended their European hopes, as they currently languish in eighth place in the Super Lig standings with 35 points from 26 matches, leaving them eight points adrift of the Europa Conference League qualification spot and just seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Things could get even worse for them as they travel to face the league leaders in their next league game.
Failure to win here would see the Scorpions go without a win in four consecutive away games for the first time this season.
- W
- D
- L
- L
- L
- D
