Fresh off yet another controversy, Turkish Super Lig's bottom side Adana Demirspor will host Antalyaspor at the New Adana Stadium on Friday to kick off round 24.
The Blue Lightnings walked off the pitch in their last league match against leaders Galatasaray, marking an embarrassing new low for Turkish football.
Match preview
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Adana took to the pitch away at Rams Park last Sunday, with expectations of another defeat looming large, and the hosts dominated from the outset, taking the lead in the 12th minute when Alvaro Morata converted from the spot after Dries Mertens won a penalty.
However, just 16 minutes later, Adana's manager instructed his players to leave the pitch in protest against the penalty decision, and the game was subsequently abandoned.
It was later revealed that club chairman Murat Sancak had ordered the team's walk-off, leading to widespread criticism, and the fallout has been severe, culminating in Sancak's resignation.
Meanwhile, Adana remain rooted to the bottom of the table with just five points, struggling with financial turmoil that has already resulted in a transfer ban and a three-point deduction.
Head coach Mustafa Avci will attempt to shift focus back to matters on the pitch as he seeks to pull off the near-impossible task of saving Adana from relegation.
His tenure has started in disappointing fashion, with two consecutive losses, but Friday's clash presents an opportunity to draw on history—Adana remain unbeaten in their 12 previous home meetings with Antalyaspor, winning nine and drawing three across all competitions.
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However, Antalyaspor are aiming to put further distance between themselves and the relegation battle with what will be a historic victory.
With 26 points from 22 matches, the Scorpions sit six points clear of the drop zone, and they come into this fixture unbeaten in their last three league games, having recorded a win sandwiched between two draws.
Their most recent outing ended in a goalless stalemate against Istanbul Basaksehir, a match that saw 19 attempts from both sides but failed to produce a single shot on target.
Despite being in better form than their hosts, Antalyaspor will be wary of their dreadful record at this ground, having never won here, and they have also lost four of their last five away matches across all competitions, with three of those defeats coming in the Super Lig.
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Team News
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Adana Demirspor remain without Bunyamin Bala, who is sidelined for several weeks, while Andrew Gravillon is out for the rest of the season.
Avci is expected to stick with the same XI that started against Galatasaray, with Abat Aimbetov leading the line.
Antalyaspor, meanwhile, will continue to be without defenders Burak Ingenc and Erdogan Yesilyurt, meaning the back four of Bunyamin Balci, Veysel Sari, Bahadir Ozturk and Guray Vural is likely to remain unchanged.
Deni Milosevic remains unavailable, while Emre Uzun is ruled out for the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament injury.
Adana Demirspor possible starting lineup:
Donmezer; Burak, Guler, Kalender, Kurtulan; Celik, Maestro, Aydogan; Alioui, Aymbetov, Barasi
Antalyaspor possible starting lineup:
Piric; Balci, Sari, Ozturk, Vural; Kaluzinski, Rakip, Van de Streek, Safari, Samudio; Larsson
We say: Adana Demirspor 1-2 Antalyaspor
Antalyaspor's superior form gives them an edge despite their dreadful record at Adana – the hosts are desperate for redemption, and will fight hard, but their off-field turmoil appears to have taken a toll on their season, which is why we expect a win for the visitors.
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