Turkish football pundit Berk Göl has warned Galatasaray against overlooking Kasımpaşa as the club prepares for Friday's league encounter at Rams Park, insisting that the domestic fixture could prove far more difficult than expected.
Galatasaray will host Kasımpaşa amid uncertainty over the availability of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, who has been sidelined since suffering an injury during the club's meeting with İstanbul Başakşehir last month.
Osimhen's return date remains unclear, with Galatasaray reportedly targeting next week's Champions League meeting with Barcelona as the match for his comeback.
However, Göl believes Galatasaray cannot afford to treat Friday's fixture as secondary to the European showdown.
The pundit urged the club to take Kasımpaşa seriously and suggested that Osimhen's presence could be important if he is fit enough to feature.
“The Barcelona match is the target [for Osimhen], which is very understandable, but the Kasımpaşa match is a tough one. Galatasaray will be very tired and will have missing players,” Göl said, as quoted by Habersarikirmizi.
Galatasaray facing a difficult return
Göl's warning comes as Galatasaray prepares to return to competitive action after a lengthy period without a match.
The pundit believes the extended break could have disrupted the team's rhythm and left the players facing a demanding test against Kasımpaşa.
“The team has also lost its rhythm, having not played a match for almost a month. The Kasımpaşa match should be taken seriously.”
The absence of regular competitive football could be a concern for Galatasaray, particularly with the club balancing domestic ambitions against the demands of the Champions League.
While attention may naturally be turning towards the high-profile meeting with Barcelona, Göl believes Friday's game presents its own set of challenges.
Osimhen's return remains uncertain
Osimhen has been an important attacking figure for Galatasaray, making his potential return a major talking point ahead of both fixtures.
The Nigerian forward has not featured since his injury against İstanbul Başakşehir, leaving Galatasaray to manage his absence while monitoring his recovery.
The club's preference is reportedly to have Osimhen available for the Champions League clash with Barcelona next week. Whether he will be considered ready for Friday's match against Kasımpaşa remains uncertain.
For Galatasaray, the priority will be to avoid taking unnecessary risks with the striker while also ensuring that the team remains focused on its immediate domestic assignment.
Göl's comments highlight the danger of looking too far ahead. With Kasımpaşa first on the schedule and Barcelona waiting next week, Galatasaray must first navigate a potentially demanding league encounter before turning its full attention to Europe.