Kayserispor will take on Trabzonspor at the Kadir Has Stadium on Saturday, aiming to end a five-match winless run and bolster their survival hopes in the Turkish Super Lig.
Meanwhile, the visitors will be looking to extend their winning streak to three league matches and continue their climb up the table.
Match preview
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Sinan Kaloglu's appointment as Kayserispor manager in October initially brought a wave of optimism, as the Anatolian Star went on a four-match unbeaten run, securing their first league win of the campaign.
However, their fortunes have since taken a downturn, managing just two wins in nine league outings since that streak ended, while the six defeats during that period—including four in their last five matches—have deepened their struggles.
Their most recent league outing saw them suffer a heavy 5-2 defeat against Sivasspor, a match in which they finished with nine men following two red cards – a loss that also marked the end of Kaloglu's tenure, with former Dinamo Zagreb boss Sergej Jakirovic swiftly appointed as his replacement.
Now on their third manager this season, Kayserispor will hope the Bosnian can inspire a turnaround, as they currently sit 17th in the table, five points from safety with 16 points.
Jakirovic's first task will be to claim maximum points against an opponent they have failed to beat in their last two meetings—losing once and drawing 2-2 in the reverse fixture back in September.
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Interestingly, four of the last five encounters between these sides have ended in away victories, with each team winning twice in that span, a trend Trabzonspor will be eager to continue.
The Black Sea Storm are in fine form, having netted 12 goals in their last three matches across all competitions while keeping three consecutive clean sheets.
During that period, Senol Gunes's side secured back-to-back league wins—first, a dominant 5-0 victory over Antalyaspor, followed by a 4-0 thrashing of Sivasspor in their latest outing.
These wins have propelled Trabzonspor to 10th in the standings with 25 points, nine clear of the relegation zone, and they now have an outside chance of pushing for a top-six finish.
However, their away form remains a major concern – alongside Hatayspor, they are one of just two teams yet to register an away victory this season, having picked up only four points from a possible 27 on the road, leaving them second-bottom in the away table.
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Team News
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Kayserispor will be without Julian Jeanvier due to injury, while Joseph Attamah is suspended after his red card in their last outing, and as a result, Majid Hosseini and Dimitrios Kolovetsios could form the central defensive partnership.
Anthony Uzodimma, Lionel Carole and Eray Ozbek are also sidelined through injury, while Stephane Bahoken is suspended after being sent off last time out, which could see Duckens Nazon lead the attack.
Trabzonspor, meanwhile, will be without Denis Dragus, Onuralp Cevikkan, Okay Yokuslu and Arif Bosluk, all of whom are injured.
Anthony Nwakaeme is also sidelined, potentially opening the door for Danylo Sikan to make his debut.
Kayserispor possible starting lineup:
Piri; Sazdagi, Hosseini, Kolovetsios, Kaldirim; Ackah, Yilmaz; Morte, Cardoso, Mane; Bahoken
Trabzonspor possible starting lineup:
Cakir; Malheiro, Lundstram, Batagov, Elmali; Tufan, Gunes, Mendy; Visca, Banza, Sikan
We say: Kayserispor 1-2 Trabzonspor
Kayserispor's struggles and managerial instability contrast with Trabzonspor's strong form, but the visitors' poor away record is a concern.
With a new manager bounce possible for the hosts, a tightly contested match is expected – however, Trabzonspor's firepower could prove decisive, helping them win the clash.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
