Adana Demirspor play host to Istanbul Basaksehir on Saturday evening knowing that they have already guaranteed fourth spot in the Super Lig standings.
While the visitors still have work to do to secure fifth spot, neither position, as it stands, will be enough to qualify for European football through the league.
Match preview
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Given their inconsistency earlier in the season, Adana Demirspor cannot be too disappointed that they sit eight points adrift of the top three with two games left.
Nevertheless, producing a run of seven wins from eight matches will frustrate Vincenzo Montella on a certain level, his team showing what they are truly capable of.
Although each of those victories came against teams outside of the top five and the one defeat was versus Besiktas, their goalscoring efforts have shown that they are a cut above most teams in the division.
Aside from the 4-1 reverse to Besiktas, Montella's side have netted at least twice in the other seven fixtures, yet their 2-0 win at Istanbulspor last time out was their first clean sheet in six games.
Having improved from ninth spot in 2021-22, there are numerous positives to be had from this season, and they will still hope that their next opponents can contribute to a European spot being achieved.
While Istanbul Basaksehir have regressed in the league this campaign, they have a Turkish Cup final against Fenerbahce to look forward to on June 11.
Victory in that game will secure a place in the Europa Conference League qualifying rounds, whereas defeat would let in Demirspor courtesy of their fourth position.
Basaksehir are winless in their last three league games, a narrow defeat to Galatasaray being followed by draws with Umraniyespor and Antalyaspor.
Holding a two-point lead over sixth-placed Trabzonspor, who they play on the final day, Emre Belozoglu will want to get back to winning ways ahead of that end-of-season encounter.
Team News
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Yusuf Sari is expected to be recalled to the Demirspor XI after coming off the substitutes' bench to contribute an assist last time out.
Having been introduced as a half-time replacement at Istanbulspor, Benjamin Stambouli is also in line to come back into the team in central midfield.
Yusuf Erdogan and Badou Ndiaye would be the players to drop out of the side if those alterations are made by Montella.
Omer Sahiner will be assessed having needed to be withdrawn during the first half of the fixture at Antalyaspor on May 21.
Serder Gurler could return if Sahiner remains injured, although Mahmut Tekdemir is available again after serving a three-match league suspension.
Adana Demirspor possible starting lineup:
Karacic; Cokcalis, Morel, Guler, Rodrigues; Sari, Soyalp, Stambouli, Akintola; Akbaba, Gulbrandsen
Istanbul Basaksehir possible starting lineup:
Sengezer; Ozbayrakli, Duarte, Touba, Erkin; Turuc, Tekdemir, Biglia, Ozcan, Januzaj; Keny
We say: Adana Demirspor 1-1 Istanbul Basaksehir
While this fixture is effectively a dead-rubber for both sides, that will not prevent them from wanting to win this contest. In a game between two evenly-matched sides, we feel that a competitive low-scoring draw is the most likely outcome.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Darren Plant
