Istanbul's attack has stayed productive even when the match has slipped away late. Galatasaray has more ways to score and has put together recent sweeps, but those wins came against weaker attacks. In the other match, Altekma's improved first contact has made its attack harder to contain. Onikişubat still brings the Candido-led attack that troubled Altekma in their cup meeting.
Mejias has fed Padar and Kooy heavily for Istanbul, and that pair supplied fifty attack kills against Gaziantep. Istanbul also completed a set against unbeaten Gebze, whose serve gave it a tougher reception test. Galatasaray can answer through Ma'a, Maar and Kaplan, with Kaplan's block and the team's serve able to cut off high balls to Padar.
Patry's thumb injury was reported in late October and he did not play Galatasaray's last match; his status for this match has not been confirmed. Kooy and Padar both played Istanbul's latest match. Galatasaray has the steadier route over the full match, but Istanbul's attack has shown enough against stronger opposition to finish a set. That's why I'm siding with Istanbul GSK to take a set.
Altekma now has Tarakçı starting alongside Young and Ewert, with Buculjevic setting behind a stronger receiving unit than in the cup. Its sweep of Gaziantep came in three sets decided by only two points each, with attack points almost level. Onikişubat can test that narrow finishing margin through Candido, while Hamacher and Hacıoğlu provide a second route around Altekma's block.
Candido, Hamacher and setter Galvez started Onikişubat's last reported match, and Buculjevic and Tarakçı started Altekma's; no lineup for this match is confirmed. Altekma can control much of the play with its serve and block, but Onikişubat has already out-attacked this opponent and has kept its main finisher involved. I expect at least one stretch where Candido and an outside attacker complete the job. That's why I'm siding with Onikişubat to take a set.
