One of the biggest games in the European football calendar will take place on Sunday when Fenerbahce face off against their fierce local rivals Galatasaray at the Ulker Stadium.

The stakes are particularly high for the hosts in the intercontinental derby, as they hunt down a top-two spot, while a disappointing campaign for Galatasaray would receive a much-needed boost with a victory over their bitter rivals.

Match preview

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Third-placed Fenerbahce are hoping to qualify for the Champions League qualifying rounds, but to achieve that goal, they must finish inside the top two.

With Trabzonspor in a league of their own at the top, the only route into the Champions League for Sunday's hosts is to overhaul Konyaspor, who currently sit in second place.

Fenerbahce are currently two points adrift of second position largely thanks to a 2-1 victory that they picked up against Konyaspor in their most recent home encounter.

The Yellow Canaries followed up that result with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Kayserispor last weekend, with goals from Miha Zajc, Diego Rossi, Irfan Kahveci and Arda Guler helping Fenerbahce clinch a third consecutive victory.

Ismail Kartal's side now have the chance to extend their current unbeaten league run to eight matches, and there would be no better way to achieve that feat than by beating their city neighbours.

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Galatasaray, meanwhile, will be hoping that they are the side that can end Fenerbahce's unbeaten run with the visitors aiming to clinch back-to-back victories.

It has been an underwhelming season for the side that sit in 13th position, but they will still be looking to finish the season strong and a win against their rivals would certainly give their fans something to cheer about.

After suffering back-to-back defeats, Galatasaray bounced back last weekend, with a Bafetimbi Gomis spot kick and a Ryan Babel strike guiding their side to a 2-0 victory over Fatih Karagumruk.

That win may have given Sunday's visitors a boost, but their away form this season will be a cause for concern for Galatasaray boss Domenec Torrent.

Their 15 away league matches have brought about just three victories, while they have won only one of their last 10 away league games, although in a derby, form can go out the window.

Team News

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Mesut Ozil and Ozan Tufan are not expected to feature for Fenerbahce again after the club announced that the pair are suspended from the first-team squad.

The Yellow Canaries coped well without the pair last weekend, and Kartal is expected to keep changes to a minimum for the derby, although Attila Szalai could come into the side.

Serdar Dursun will lead the line for the hosts and the forward will be hoping to add to the eight league goals that he has scored this season.

As for the visitors, they are hopeful that Kerem Akturkoglu will be fit enough for a place on the bench despite having to be withdrawn after 35 minutes against Fatih Karagumruk.

With Akturkoglu not expected to start, Emre Kilinc could be given a starting berth for the derby contest.

Galatasaray are expected to be without the services of Mostafa Mohamed and Sofiane Feghouli, who are both recovering from injuries.

Fenerbahce possible starting lineup:
Bayindir; Osayi-Samuel, Aziz, Kim, Szalai; Crespo, Zajc; Yandas, Kahveci, Rossi; Dursun

Galatasaray possible starting lineup:
Muslera; Bayram, Nelsson, Marcao, Van Aanholt; Babel, Kutlu, Antalyali, Cicaldau, Kilinc; Gomis

We say: Fenerbahce 2-1 Galatasaray

Derby encounters can be cagey affairs, and we expect that to be the case on Sunday, but with Fenerbahce hunting down a Champions League place, we think that their quality will shine through to give them the all-important victory.

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