Two Turkish Super Lig teams struggling for consistency lock horns at the New Antalya Stadium on Sunday as Antalyaspor play host to Istanbul Basaksehir.
While the Scorpions are seeking to avoid a third straight home defeat, the Grey Owls have only won one of their last seven matches on the road.
Match preview
© Reuters
Just over a week after suffering their 15th Super Lig defeat of the season at the hands of Besiktas, Antalyaspor were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw away against Ankaragucu on Wednesday.
Left-back Guray Vural scored his first away goal of the season to break the deadlock for the visitors in the 67th minute, but the hosts fought back to snatch a point courtesy of a 93rd-minute equaliser from substitute Milson.
Alfons Groenendijk's side have experienced an inconsistent run of form for some time, winning, drawing and losing three games each in their last nine, and they subsequently sit mid-table in the Super Lig, occupying 12th place and positioned six points above the relegation zone.
The Scorpions could do with at least a couple more victories to secure their top-flight status, although claiming maximum points on Sunday could prove challenging as they have failed to win in each of their last seven home meetings with Istanbul Basaksehir.
Like Antalyaspor, Basaksehir were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw on Wednesday night, sharing the spoils with relegation-threatened Umraniye after playing for almost the entire game with 10 men.
After Danijel Aleksic had given the Grey Owls a fourth-minute lead, Mahmut Tekdemir was sent off just three minutes later for a high boot into the face of Onur Ayik, and despite their best efforts to hold onto their slender lead, Umut Nayir converted from the penalty spot on the hour mark to rescue a point for Umraniye.
A run of just three victories in their last 12 Super Lig matches has prevented Emre Belozoglu's side from challenging for the European positions, and they now sit fifth in the standings, 19 points behind Besiktas in third with four games remaining.
Basaksehir are simply playing for pride in the closing stages of their league campaign, but Belozoglu will want to use Sunday's contest as an opportunity to build positive momentum ahead of next Thursday's Turkish Cup semi-final second leg against Ankaragucu, which the Grey Owls lead 1-0 from the first leg.
Team News
© Reuters
Antalyaspor will be without Vural due to suspension, so Cemali Sertel is expected to deputise at left-back, joining Bunyamin Balci, Veysel Sari and former Bayer Leverkusen defender Omer Toprak in the back four.
The hosts are also set to be without top scorer Haji Wright who has been granted time off to attend the birth of his child, with Bertug Yildirim expected to lead the line in the absence of the 15-goal American.
As for Basaksehir, Leo Duarte, Stefano Okaka, Patryk Szysz and Eden Karzev are all ruled out through injury, and Tekdemir will serve a suspension following his red card last time out.
In the absence of the latter, Berkay Ozcan could be handed a start in centre-midfield alongside 37-year-old Lucas Biglia, while wingers Adnan Januzaj and Serdar Gurler are set to provide support in attack for central striker Joao Figueiredo.
Antalyaspor possible starting lineup:
Leite; Balci, Sari, Toprak, Sertel; Rakip, Fernando; Sinik, Fredy, Larsson; Yildirim
Istanbul Basaksehir possible starting lineup:
Sengezer; Sahiner, Ie, Touba, Lima; Biglia, Ozcan; Januzaj, Aleksic, Gurler; Figueiredo
We say: Antalyaspor 1-2 Istanbul Basaksehir
Both teams will be keen to return to winning ways and end the season on a high with a positive run of results, particularly Antalyaspor who are not yet mathematically safe from the drop.
A closely-fought contest is set to be played out in Antalya, but we believe that the visitors will do enough to secure a narrow victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
