European-chasing Besiktas seek to extend their undefeated run at the Tupras Stadyumu when they welcome Gaziantep in round 10 of the Turkish Super Lig.
The Black Eagles were beaten by defending league champions Galatasaray in round nine, while the away side claimed their third victory in four games.
Match preview
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It has been a disappointing few days for Besiktas, who lost against Gala last weekend and suffered a 3-1 loss at Bodo/Glimt in the Europa Conference League on Thursday.
The latter was Hari Vukas's first game in charge of the Istanbul-based outfit, replacing Senol Gunes, who was let go at the start of October.
The new head coach seeks to continue Besiktas' impressive home form in the league as they aim to extend the ongoing four-game unbeaten sequence in 2023-24 and a year-long undefeated run in front of their fans.
Besiktas have dropped points in five games since Istanbul Basaksehir claimed a 1-0 triumph in September 2022, giving the hosts confidence about heading into November still unbeaten on their turf.
They still have to work for it, but a home game gives Vukas the encouraging conditions to secure his first win as coach of the 16-time Turkish champions.
As for Gaziantep, they struggled to get going at the start of this season, having withdrawn from the 2022-23 campaign following the Turkey-Syria earthquake.
However, results in recent weeks show an upward trajectory, with the visiting side claiming their three wins this term in the last four gameweeks.
GFK's poor start to the campaign cost Erdal Gunes his job, and it is to Marius Sumudica's credit that the club have risen from the bottom since his September 6 appointment.
Gaziantep could still slip into the bottom four if they are beaten in Istanbul, and one or both of Basaksehir or Pendikspor claim positive results, but Sumudica's men are better placed than they were a few weeks back.
Their inability to secure positive results away from home (four defeats in five) could count against the league's 16th-placed side, even if a 2-1 victory over winless Samsunspor was claimed at the end of September.
Team News
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Mert Gunok was dismissed against Galatasaray, and the goalkeeper is suspended for Besiktas on Sunday.
Vukas has several injured absentees to deal with, as the home side are expected to be without the services of Eric Bailly, Umut Meras, Daniel Amartey and Salih Ucan.
Emrecan Uzunhan and Tayyib Sanuc are unlikely to be rushed back due to the nature of their ACL injuries.
Ilker Karakas and Albian Ajeti are Gaziantep's only injury doubts at Besiktas, but neither were expected to play from the off in Istanbul.
Only Denis Dragus has netted more than one goal this season for GFK, who must get more out of their attackers to rise in the standings.
Besiktas possible starting lineup:
Destanoglu; Rosier, Colley, Uysal, Zaynutdinov; Fernandes, Hadziahmetovic; Ghezzal, Chamberlain, Rashica; Aboubakar
Gaziantep possible starting lineup:
Nita; Kizildag, Djilobodji, Nkoulou; Eskihellac, Soyalp, Jevtovic, Morais; Markovic, Dragus, Maxim
We say: Besiktas 2-0 Gaziantep
Besiktas have won all but one league game in Istanbul, and another routine victory in front of their supporters is likely against a side that struggle on the road.
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