Gaziantep FK and Beşiktaş named their starting lineups on today for the opening match of the 32nd week of the Trendyol Süper Lig, with both sides forced into changes before kickoff. Gaziantep were without Mbakata and Ali Ablak because of injuries, while Beşiktaş missed three players, including Rıdvan Yılmaz, who was suspended after a yellow card, Kartal Yılmaz, who was injured, and Gökhan Sazdağı, who was not included in the squad.
Gaziantep FK lined up with Zafer Görgen, Drissa Camara, Nihad Mujakic, Victor Gidado, Mohammed Bayo, Kacper Kozlowski, Mynety Abena, Deian Sorescu, Nazim Sangare, Alexandru Maxim and Kevin Rodrigues. Their substitutes were Cemil, Tayyip, Melih, Ogün, Lungoyi, Gassama, Oraguş, Perez, Ali Osman and Arda. Beşiktaş named Ersin Destanoğlu, Taylan Bulut, Tiago Djalo, Felix Uduokhai, Yasin Özcan, Asllani, Salih Uçan, Rashica, Cengiz Ünder, Jota Silva and Mustafa Erhan Hekimoğlu in the starting side, with Devis Vasquez, Ndidi, Hyeongyu Oh, Orkun Kökçü, Agbadou, Olaitan, Cerny, El Bilal, Emirhan and Amir Murillo on the bench.
The matchup carried added weight because Gaziantep FK and Beşiktaş had met 18 times before. Beşiktaş had won nine of those games, Gaziantep five, and four had finished level, with Beşiktaş scoring 32 goals and Gaziantep 18. Their first-half league meeting in Istanbul this season ended in a draw, a reminder that the balance between the sides has not always followed the long-term record.
That history gives today’s team sheets extra bite. Beşiktaş arrive with more absences, but Gaziantep are also short-handed, and the opening moves in a week where points are at a premium will be shaped as much by who is unavailable as by who is named. The lineups suggest a match decided by depth, not just form.