Antalyaspor welcome Kasimpasa to the New Antalya Stadium on Saturday, aiming to extend their unbeaten run in the Turkish Super Lig to five matches.
The hosts have drawn three and won one of their last four league outings, sitting 13th in the table, and victory here would move them within a point of their higher-ranked visitors.
Match preview
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Antalyaspor's recent resilience has stemmed from improved defensive performances under head coach Emre Belozoglu, which has seen them concede more than one goal in just one of their last five league matches.
However, their struggles in front of goal remain a concern. Last time out, the Scorpions were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by bottom-placed Adana Demirspor, despite registering 17 attempts and eight shots on target.
It was a similar story in their previous goalless draw against Istanbul Basaksehir, where they managed 14 attempts but failed to record a single shot on target.
With 27 points from 23 matches, Antalyaspor sit six points clear of the relegation zone, a gap they will look to widen with 13 matches remaining.
However, they are winless in their last three competitive games, including a 3-1 Turkish Cup defeat to Bodrum, and have failed to beat Kasimpasa in their last five meetings, losing three and drawing two.
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Kasimpasa, meanwhile, suffered their first league defeat under new head coach Burak Yilmaz, falling 3-1 to title-chasing Fenerbahce.
Despite the loss, their attacking performance offered encouragement, as they created plenty of chances but lacked clinical finishing.
That setback did not impact their league position, with the Apaches remaining eighth on 31 points, nine adrift of the top four, and with European ambitions still in sight, they will be eager to avoid further slip-ups.
Kasimpasa boast the fourth-best away record in the league, collecting 18 points from a possible 36. The defeat at Fenerbahce was only their second away loss this season, though they have also drawn a league-high six matches on the road.
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Team News
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Antalyaspor remain without long-term absentees Erdogan Yesilyurt and Emre Uzun, both sidelined for the season with cruciate ligament injuries.
Sam Larsson has led the line in recent weeks, supported by Braian Samudio on the wing, but with their attacking struggles continuing, Belozoglu may consider reshuffling his frontline.
Kasimpasa, on the other hand, have no injury or suspension concerns, giving Yilmaz a full squad to choose from.
Midfielder Aytac Kara is available again after serving a one-match suspension for accumulated yellow cards.
Antalyaspor possible starting lineup:
Piric; Balci, Sari, Ozturk, Vural; Kaluzinski, Petrusenko, Van de Streek, Safari, Larsson; Samudio
Kasimpasa possible starting lineup:
Gianniotis; Winck, Piatowski, Ozcan, Rodrigues; Cafu; Ouanes, Hajradinovic, Kara, Fall; Costa
We say: Antalyaspor 1-1 Kasimpasa
Antalyaspor may be unbeaten in four, but their struggles in front of goal and inconsistent home form leave them vulnerable.
Kasimpasa have shown their resilience on the road, and they will have enough to earn a positive result as Antalya are not the strongest at home, which is why we are predicting a stalemate.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
