Besiktas face Antalyaspor at Vodafone Park this Sunday, in the latest round of Turkish Super Lig fixtures.
The home side will be looking to move back into Europa Conference League qualification contention, while the visitors are firmly rooted in mid-table.
Match preview
© Reuters
Besiktas head into this weekend's round of fixtures in sixth place, two points off third-placed Galatasaray, having acquired 22 points from their opening 13 matches.
The Black Eagles started the season in fine form, with four wins and one draw in their opening five games, and former manager Valerien Ismael had them playing some good attacking football, scoring at least three goals in all except one match on that run.
However, form dipped in the following weeks, losing 1-0 at home to Istanbul Basaksehir, the initial game in a run of just two wins in eight league games.
Ismael was relieved of his duties after a dismal 2-1 defeat to Hatayspor, a team that currently occupy a place in the relegation zone, and so began the Senol Gunes era at Vodafone Park, kicking off with a 5-2 victory against Umraniyespor.
A 2-1 defeat in a tough trip to Galatasaray came next, but most recently the Black Eagles cruised to a 3-1 victory in the Turkish Cup at home to Serik Belediyespor, with Nathan Redmond and Dele Alli scoring either side of Jackson Muleka in the first half.
Antalyaspor finished on the same points tally as Sunday's opponents last season, although they currently trail them by six points in the league standings, heading into this weekend in ninth place.
Conversely to the Black Eagles, Akrepler made a very poor start to the season, losing five of their opening seven matches, with particularly poor defeats coming in a 5-2 loss at Gaziantep FK, and a 3-0 home defeat to Adana Demirspor.
The club's hierarchy got their reward for sticking by rookie manager Nuri Sahin, as they have now won their last four games in all competitions, most recently defeating Pendikspor 3-0 to secure progression in the Turkish Cup.
However, a trip to Vodafone Park is set to be Antalyaspor's toughest test since facing Galatasaray on the opening day, particularly considering the fact they have not beaten their opponents in their last seven attempts.
- D
- L
- W
- W
- W
- W
- D
- L
- W
- W
- W
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Besiktas are missing just one player through injury, with Rachid Ghezzal out until later this month, currently suffering with a thigh problem.
Dele Alli notched his second goal in a Besiktas shirt last time out, and so he should keep his place in the midfield, with Gedson Fernandes coming back in to accompany him, having been rested in the recent cup fixture.
Wout Weghorst should also come back into the attack for some added firepower, as the 30-year-old has weighed in with 10 goal contributions in the league this season.
Antalyaspor are currently struggling for options up front, with Fredy Ribeiro ruled out until later this month due to a back injury, while Alassane Ndao has a broken leg, and will not be back until March.
As a result, Haji Wright should lead the line, and the American forward may be boosted by the recent news that he will be a part of his national side's World Cup squad.
Besiktas possible starting lineup:
Gunok; Uzunhan, Sanuc, Saiss, Meras; Ucan, Alli, Fernandes; Nkoudou, Weghorst, Tosun
Antalyaspor possible starting lineup:
Uysal; Balci, Sari, Luyindama, Kudryashov, Vural; Nakajima, Fernando, Akyol, Larsson; Wright
We say: Besiktas 3-0 Antalyaspor
Despite Antalyaspor's uptick in form, Besiktas should have enough to get past them on home soil. With a talented player like Dele Alli now firing, and Wout Weghorst also at their disposal, it should be a comprehensive victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Dominic Lund
