The Turkish Super Lig reaches matchday 14 this weekend as Fatih Karagumruk host Istanbulspor at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium on Friday evening.
The hosts lost 2-1 to Fenerbahce in the previous round, while the visitors registered their second win of the season at home against Hatayspor.
Match preview
The home team saw their four-game unbeaten streak come to an end against Fenerbahce the last time out despite taking the lead in the 39th minute via Can Keles.
It was Karagumruk's first defeat and first time conceding more than one goal in a game since their loss to Alanyaspor in the first week of October.
Alparslan Erdem's team will have to string together another set of positive results as they are just two points off the relegation zone and will be keen to avoid a relegation scrap for the first time since gaining promotion to the Turkish Super Lig in 2019-20.
The Black Red can count on the recent improvement in their home record, as they are unbeaten in their last three home games, picking up two wins and a draw after failing to win any of the opening five home games this season.
While Karagumruk will be looking to find their feet this weekend and try to steer further away from the relegation zone, next up is an opponent they lost at home to last season, losing 2-1 to the Bulls in October 2022.
The visitors, Istanbulspor, sit rock-bottom of the table, but they did end a five-game losing streak in all competitions with a 2-1 victory over Hatayspor in what was just their second win in the Turkish Super Lig this season.
Florian Loshaj and Mendy Mamadou grabbed the headlines as they netted the goals either side of Renat Dadasov's spot kick for Hatayspor to stop the Bulls' four-game losing run in the league.
With just eight points from 13 matches, Hakan Yakin's men are currently rooted to the bottom of the Turkish Super Lig standings, five points behind 16th-placed Pendikspor just outside the relegation zone.
While Istanbulspor will look to pick up where they left off last time out, they have struggled to get going away from home, where they are currently on a five-game losing run since a 1-1 draw with Konyaspor in August's league opener.
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Team News
Karagumruk have an almost fully fit squad for Friday's game, with only Lawrence Nicholas still missing.
The Nigerian has featured just once for the home side this season, coming on for a substitute appearance in the season opener against Besiktas.
Guven Yalcin, who has already scored three times with two of those goals coming in the last three games, is expected to retain his spot in attack, while Matias Dituro should remain in goal after returning to the starting XI against Fenerbahce.
Meanwhile, Istanbulspor will take to the pitch without the services of 25-year-old defender Okan Erdogan, who missed the win over Hatayspor with an ankle injury.
Loshaj scored the opening goal against Hatayspor last time out and the 27-year-old should retain his spot in midfield behind Kaan Gultekin in attack.
Fatih Karagumruk possible starting lineup:
Dituro; Biraschi, Dresevic, Ceccherini, Mercan; Feghouli, Mendes, Rohden, Eysseric, Keles; Yalcin
Istanbulspor possible starting lineup:
Jensen; Duhaney, Yesil, Deli, Yasar; Vorobjovas, Sarikaya; Ndao, Loshaj, Jackson; Gultekin
We say: Fatih Karagumruk 1-0 Istanbulspor
Istanbulspor's victory over Hatayspor will give them a morale boost, but their record on the road has been poor this season.
Meanwhile, the hosts have picked up nine of their 14 points at home this season and enjoyed a great run before the international break. Erdem's men are unbeaten in their last three home games and we are backing them to come away with all three points in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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