Fenerbahçe manager İsmail Kartal is finalizing his starting lineup for the upcoming Süper Lig derby against Galatasaray while weighing three unresolved decisions in attack, midfield support, and defense, Hürriyet reported. The yellow-navies are continuing intensive training sessions ahead of the high-profile fixture of the ninth round.
Selection Dilemmas in Attack and the Number 10 Role
In the attacking third, the technical staff is weighing a choice between Vedat Muriqi and Romelu Lukaku to lead the line, with each striker offering distinct profiles, according to CNN Türk. Alternatively, the managerial team is evaluating two different tactical setups for the central attacking midfielder position. One scenario places Mason Greenwood in the number 10 role, mirroring his deployment against Slavia Prag, which would push Oğuz Aydın to the right flank and Kerem Aktürkoğlu to the left. A secondary plan shifts İrfan Can Kahveci into the central playmaker role while moving Greenwood to the right wing and keeping Oğuz Aydın on the left.
Defensive Adjustments Following Nathan Aké’s Injury
At the back, Fenerbahçe must compensate for the absence of injured defender Nathan Aké. Kartal has two primary candidates for the left-center-back spot: Archie Brown and Oppong, as detailed in the squad preparations. If Archie Brown pairs alongside Milan Škriniar in central defense, Levent Mercan is slated to start at left-back. Should Oppong earn the nod in the central defensive pairing instead, Archie Brown will shift out to cover the left-back position. Meanwhile, Nelson Semedo is expected to retain his regular starting duties at right-back.
Tactical Blueprint for Matteo Guendouzi in Midfield
In the center of the pitch, the pairing of N’Golo Kanté and Matteo Guendouzi is considered all but certain by the technical staff. Milliyet reported that Kartal has assigned a specialized task to Guendouzi specifically aimed at neutralizing Galatasaray’s Aleksey Batrakov. The French midfielder has been instructed to stick to a close, man-marking assignment against Batrakov for the duration of the match to disrupt the hosts’ build-up play and intercept vertical passes directed behind the defensive line. Last season, Guendouzi recorded an 84 percent passing accuracy in the corresponding derby fixture.
Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe Meet in Süper Lig Ninth Round
The Süper Lig ninth-round encounter between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe takes place amid a demanding stretch of domestic fixtures for both clubs. Fenerbahçe will await the official release of the final matchday squad by İsmail Kartal ahead of kickoff.
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