Galatasaray
Galatasaray head into their fourth Champions League game with renewed confidence after four consecutive victories in all competitions. Monday's press conference made clear, however, that Okan Buruk is not preparing for just one Stuttgart shape. The German side have used both a back three and a back four, and the Galatasaray coach wants his team ready for either approach.
Victor Osimhen remains the focal point in attack, supported by Aleksey Batrakov, who scored in the 4-2 win at Lille and again against Konyaspor. Yunus Akgün has also been among the goals, giving Buruk several ways to create chances around his centre-forward. The main decision may come on the left: Barış Alper Yılmaz started the European win in France, while Rafael Leão scored in Friday's 4-0 league victory.
Buruk also has a defensive choice. Abdülkerim Bardakcı started the previous European game, but Wilfried Singo was selected against Konyaspor and remains a viable alternative.
VfB Stuttgart
Stuttgart's 4-2 win away to Bayer Leverkusen gave Sebastian Hoeneß an encouraging answer to a difficult run of domestic results. Ermedin Demirović scored twice, while Jamie Leweling and Bilal El Khannouss also found the net. It was an assertive display, but repeating it in Istanbul will be more complicated without Angelo Stiller, whose groin problem removes a key figure from central midfield.
Atakan Karazor and Grischa Prömel are candidates to anchor the side in his absence. Hoeneß has another decision to make over the formation: the back three used against Leverkusen allows Leweling and Chris Führich to operate as wing-backs, with Deniz Undav and El Khannouss supporting Demirović. Maximilian Mittelstädt offers a more conventional option on the left.
Ramon Hendriks has started Stuttgart's recent matches and can occupy the left side of the defensive trio. With Josha Vagnoman and Leo Sauer also missing, Hoeneß may favour continuity in central defence while adjusting the positions around it.
