Two sides still searching for their first win of the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig campaign will face off when Alanyaspor host Goztepe SK at Bahcesehir Okullari Arena on Friday.
The hosts have a single point from the opening two rounds, while the visitors have picked up two points in as many matches.
Match preview
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After finishing eighth last season, Alanyaspor entered the new campaign hoping for an even better performance. However, the opening two weeks have not gone according to plan.
Fatih Tekke's side kicked off the new campaign with a 1-1 draw against Eyupspor on home soil, but they followed it with a 4-2 defeat against Istanbul Basaksehir last Sunday despite the scoreline being level at the 90th minute.
Alanya went behind before the 20th minute before goals from Sergio Cordova and a penalty from Jure Balkovec left them ahead at half time. However, after Basaksehir restored parity in the 54th minute, the scoreline remained at 2-2 until Tekke's men conceded in the 90th and 96th minutes to lose the game.
Still searching for their first win of the season, Alanyaspor will be back on home soil on Friday against newly-promoted Goztepe, a side they have not lost to in the last three meetings.
Tekke's men are also on a four-match unbeaten home run dating back to last season, but the last three games in the run have been draws — a result that is likely to be unsatisfactory for the hosts in this clash.
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Newly promoted Goztepe are unbeaten after two Super Lig matches, the first of which was a goalless draw at Antalyaspor on the opening weekend, followed by a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Fenerbahce last time out.
Stanimir Stoilov's side conceded two goals in first-half injury time to trail 2-0 at half time, but they got back into the game via Koray Gunter in the 68th minute before Romulo Cardoso's 95th-minute goal helped them avoid defeat.
Given the nature of the draw and the level of the opposition, Goztepe would be feeling confident after earning the hard-fought point — a feeling they will look to exploit in their quest for their first win of the campaign against Alanyaspor.
However, the visitors have just one top-flight win away at Alanya, which came in 2019, and have just two wins in all their 14 visits there across all competitions.
Team News
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Alanyaspor have no injury or suspension problems ahead of this match, giving Tekke a full squad to select from.
Cordova scored his second goal in as many Super Lig games in the last match and is likely to continue leading the line alongside Loide Augusto.
Goztepe have two players with one goal each this season, Gunter and Cardoso, and the latter is expected to remain as part of the attacking pair alongside Kubilay Kanatsizkus.
Gunter is expected to keep his place as one of the three centre-backs, with Heliton and Novatus Miroshi being the other two.
Alanyaspor possible starting lineup:
Taskiran; Lima, Aliti, Balkovec; Hadergjonaj, Coelho, Janvier, Ozdemir; Karaca; Cordova, Augusto
Goztepe SK possible starting lineup:
Ozcimen; Nielsen, Heliton, Gunter, Morashi, Filho; Erdogan, Dennis, Solet; Kanatsizkus, Cardoso
We say: Alanyaspor 1-1 Goztepe SK
Alanyaspor's capitulation in their last match raises questions about their resilience, while Goztepe demonstrated impressive tenacity in securing a draw against one of the league's top teams.
Although we believe the home side's unbeaten streak at home is no coincidence, we think they will likely settle for a draw rather than a victory against a visiting team that has shown such determination against stronger opposition.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
