Adana Demirspor will be aiming to cement their place in fourth position in the Turkish Super Lig by beating Kayserispor on Sunday.
The visitors, meanwhile, would move six points behind their opponents should they be able to secure an away victory.
Match preview
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Having ended their 26-year exile from Turkey's top flight when finishing ninth last season, very few people could have foreseen Adana Demirspor being on the brink of qualifying for Europe this time around.
The Blue Lightnings spent 11 of 13 campaigns between 1998 and 2012 in Turkey's third tier, before finally returning to the Turkish Super Lig after gaining promotion from the second tier at the ninth attempt in 2021.
Vincenzo Montella, who has previously managed Fiorentina and AC Milan in Serie A after enjoying a glittering playing career in Italy, was drafted in as head coach in September 2021, and he has performed to an extremely high level ever since with his win rate nearing on 50%.
After dispatching Konyaspor 2-1 away from home on Wednesday despite playing most of the second half with 10 men, Montella's side retain a nine-point gap ahead of fifth-placed Trabzonspor - who won the title last season - as they aim to record their best-ever finish in Turkey's primary division (currently a sixth-placed finish in 1981-82).
Only league leaders Galatasaray boast a stronger offensive and defensive record than Adana Demirspor, suggesting that they are fully deserving of their standing in the table, which will improve further should they rack up a fourth successive league victory this weekend.
Kayserispor, meanwhile, have improved this season themselves from their 14th-placed finish last time out, and they will be desperate to keep their hopes of finishing fourth - which would be their best ever effort in the Turkish Super Lig - alive by winning in Adana.
Cagdas Atan's side, who were runners-up in last season's Turkish Cup after losing to Sivasspor in the final, were left frustrated by Kasimpasa on their own patch on Wednesday, with neither side able to attack with any fluency throughout the most part of the encounter.
However, after shipping six goals away to Galatasaray in their previous match, Atan would have been content to see his team defend in a more competent manner, as they gained their first clean sheet in six matches to move level on points with Trabzonspor and Istanbul Baseksehir above them in the table.
Given that both of those sides have qualified for the Champions League very recently, hat certainly does not represent bad company for a club of Kayserispor's standing to be keeping at this stage of the season, but they will be hoping for even better things to come in the future.
Team News
Adana Demirspor's impressive victory against Konayspor in midweek has come at a cost, with Babajide David, Jonas Svensson and former Stoke City midfielder Badou N'Diaye all set to miss the next match due to suspension.
David was sent off in the 48th minute, but much to his relief Cherif Ndiaye's subsequent penalty claimed all three points for the visitors, while Svensson and Badou N'Diaye have hit the yellow card threshold to receive a ban.
Veterans Gokhan Inler and Younes Belhanda are likely to come into the hosts' midfield unit, while Ismail Cokcalis will be hoping to be called upon at right-back.
Kayserispor will also be without defenders Majid Hosseini and Muhammed Eren Arikan due to suspension, while Lionel Carole and Nurettin Korkmaz are set to miss out on the trip to Adana due to injury.
Despite being held at home against Kasimpasa on Wednesday, Atan may see little reason to make any altertations to his starting XI, providing he has no concerns regarding his players' fitness levels given the short turnaround between fixtures.
Adana Demirspor possible starting lineup:
Ozbir; Cokcalis, Cetin, Morel, Rodrigues; Belhanda, Stambouli, Inler, Onyekuru; Akbaba, Ndiaye
Kayserispor possible starting lineup:
Bayazit; Sazdagi, Kolovetsios, Kocaman, Uzodimma; Bassan, Kemen, Ackah, Mensah, Mane; Thiam
We say: Adana Demirspor 2-1 Kayserispor
Adana Demirspor have undoubtedly been the surprise package in Turkish football this season, with Montella proving his managerial credentials since taking over the club over 18 months ago.
Although Kayserispor will represent difficult opposition for the hosts, we expect them to claim a fourth consecutive win, and strengthen their stranglehold on fourth position in the process.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Brett Curtis
