Eyupspor will look to make their home advantage count as they host Alanyaspor at the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium, continuing their push to break into the Turkish Super Lig's top four.
The hosts are just one point shy of the top four midway through the season and will be eager to start the second half with a victory.
Match preview
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Eyupspor have carried their strong form into the new year, beginning 2025 just as they ended 2024, securing an emphatic 4-1 win over Antalyaspor in the league, and following it up with a narrow 1-0 victory against second-tier Boluspor in the Turkish Cup.
Mame Thiam and Ahmed Kutucu have been standout performers in these games, with Thiam scoring twice in the league triumph and Kutucu finding the net in both matches.
Under Arda Turan's management, Eyupspor have surpassed expectations in their maiden Super Lig campaign, currently fifth in the table with 30 points from 18 matches, just one point behind fourth-placed Goztepe.
Unbeaten in their last four outings across all competitions, with three wins and a draw, the hosts enter Sunday's clash full of confidence, although the only previous Super Lig meeting between these two sides, the reverse fixture earlier this season, ended in a 1-1 draw.
Eyupspor's home form has been formidable, with only one loss in eight league matches, having secured five wins and conceded just six goals at home, the joint-second-fewest in the division.
Their defensive resilience has also been evident in past encounters against the visitors, with the home side keeping clean sheets in all five previous meetings at this venue across all competitions.
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For Alanyaspor, however, an inconsistent away record remains a concern, having managed just one win in nine league matches on the road this season, drawing and losing four each.
That said, Sami Ugurlu's side will be encouraged by their recent form, remaining unbeaten in their last four league matches with two wins and two draws – their most recent outing was a hard-fought 1-1 draw away to Sivasspor.
Across all competitions, Alanyaspor have suffered just one defeat in their last six games – a 3-0 loss to Trabzonspor in the Turkish Cup – while recording three wins and two draws.
However, the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium has historically been an unyielding venue for them, with the visitors having never won there, recording three losses and two draws in five previous visits, though this will also mark their first top-flight fixture at the ground.
To compound matters, Alanyaspor are winless in their last seven away matches across all competitions and have managed just one victory in their last 12 away games, dating back to last season.
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Team News
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Eyupspor will be without Fredrik Midtsjo and Taskin Ilter, both sidelined with season-ending injuries.
Sinan Gumus, Recep Niyaz, Leo Dubois and Tasos Chatzigiovanis are also unavailable, leaving Turan with a heavily depleted squad.
Winter arrivals Yalcin Kayan and Hamza Akman could make their debuts, though both are expected to start on the bench.
For Alanyaspor, Buluthan Bulut, Serdar Dursun and Furkan Bayir all remain sidelined due to injuries.
Manager Sami Ugurlu is likely to stick with his trusted 4-2-3-1 formation, with Sergio Cordova leading the line.
Eyupspor possible starting lineup:
Ozer; Vezo, Claro, Yalcin, Erkin; Ampem, Kabaskal, Bingol, Akbunar; Thiam, Kutucu
Alanyaspor possible starting lineup:
Taskiran; Hadergjonaj, Aliti, Coelho, Ozdemir; Makouta, Richard; Karaca, Janvier, Augusto; Cordova
We say: Eyupspor 2-1 Alanyaspor
Eyupspor's solid home form and defensive solidity make them favorites against an Alanyaspor side struggling on the road. That alongside Thiam and Kutucu's recent sharpness in attack is why we expect the hosts to edge a close contest.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
