Lions meet Demirspor in game with a history

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Galatasaray is expected to play with a team formed of many reserve players in tonight’s match against Adana Demirspor. DHA photo

Galatasaray will try to continue its striking form in the Ziraat Turkish Cup tonight as the Lions host third-tier Adana Demirspor.

The Istanbul team, which tops the Spor Toto Super League and is on an eight-match winning streak, is expected to field a highly-rotated side as it faces Adana Demirspor in the third round of the domestic cup.
Young forward Merthan Caner Öztürk was expected to play up front with Sercan Yıldırım, while midfielder Ceyhun Gülselam, wing-back Çağlar Birinci and goalkeeper Ufuk Ceylan were also likely to enjoy a rare chance of a starting spot in the team.

Although now in League Two, Adana Demirspor has an important place in Turkish football folklore, spending several years in the top-flight in the 1980s and 1990s.

It was also the first club for current Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim. “The emperor” played his first professional game as a young defender at Demirspor in 1969 before being signed by Galatasaray in 1973.

Bursaspor hosts Şanlıurfaspor in another match of the competition.

Twelve of the 16 total third-round games will be played tomorrow.