Galatasaray enters this contest in imperious form, leading the Süper Lig and fresh from a dominant European victory. [1, 6] Their domestic campaign has been flawless on the road, with five wins from five, showcasing both offensive firepower and defensive solidity. [17] The visitors possess the league's best attack and defense, a testament to their balanced and talented squad. [1] The recent hat-trick from Victor Osimhen against Ajax highlights the clinical nature of their forward line, which will pose a constant threat. [6] While they will be without the influential İlkay Gündoğan in midfield, their squad depth is more than capable of compensating. [22] Kocaelispor, on the other hand, faces a monumental task. Their recent winning streak was a positive development, but the 1-0 loss to Istanbul Basaksehir brought them back to earth. [1] Their strength lies in their home form, where they have been difficult to beat, losing only once this season. [22] However, they have not faced an opponent of Galatasaray's caliber. The historical head-to-head record is heavily skewed in Galatasaray's favor, though the last meeting in 2009 was a surprising Kocaelispor victory. [9] Despite their commendable defensive efforts at home, it is unlikely they will be able to contain Galatasaray's relentless attack for the full 90 minutes. A goal for the home side is possible, given their home record, but Galatasaray's superiority is expected to secure them all three points in a high-scoring affair.