Gaziantep FK will be hoping they can move out of the dreaded relegation zone in the Super Lig when they take on Caykur Rizespor at Kalyon Stadyumu on Monday evening.
The hosts are the first side below the dotted line with nine points after the first 10 matches this season, while the visitors are in ninth place and have recorded 14 points over the same period.
Match preview
After withdrawing from the league last season, Gaziantep made the worst possible start upon their return this term, losing their first five matches in succession, which left them at the foot of the standings.
However, they managed to claim an important 2-0 win over Istanbulspor toward the end of last month, which seemed to be exactly what they needed as they followed that up with another victory a week later away to Samsunspor.
The Falcons claimed their third win in four games, beating Antalyaspor after the international break, but they were unable to overcome Besiktas last weekend, losing 2-0 at Tupras Stadyumu.
Still, they are in the best form they have been this season and will be quietly confident in their chances of getting a result here against an opponent that they beat in this fixture the last time they met.
However, that will require Marius Sumudica to sort out his side's tendency to leak cheap goals, as they have already let in 17 this season, which is the league's joint third-worst record behind Pendikspor (25) and Istanbulspor (19).
Meanwhile, after earning promotion back to the Super Lig at the first time of asking, it has been a very successful start to the campaign for Rizespor, who look determined to solidify themselves in the top flight this term.
The Black Sea Sparrowhawks have won four, drawn two and lost four of their 10 league matches so far and are just five points below fifth-placed Besiktas as well as five points above the drop zone.
However, in contrast to their opponents, Rizespor have experienced a downturn in performance over the last month and come into this match following back-to-back losses against Kayserispor and, most recently, to Galatasaray at home last week.
Ilhan Palut's side have only won one of their last five matches, which came against Samsunspor before the international break and have not won a game on the road since their 2-1 victory over Konyaspor in mid-August.
The visitors will be hoping to improve their attacking output, which is the lowest of any side in the top half of the table, currently on 10, and could start doing so here against one of the worst defences in the league.
Team News
Sumudica will be without the services of Furkan Soyalp, who was sent off in the match against Besiktas last week, which could see Marko Jevtovic come into the midfield in his place.
As far as injuries go, Albian Ajeti is still several weeks away from returning from a thigh injury, while Ulas Khacef is set for an extended absence due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.
In the opposite dugout, Palut has two absentees in the form of Oscar Pinchi and Azubuike Okechukwu, with both players suffering from ankle injuries.
Farouk Miya, Oumar Diouf, Okechukwu Azubuike, and Efe Tecimer have not featured this season and are ineligible for selection for the foreseeable future.
Gaziantep possible starting lineup:
Nita; Eskihellac, Kizildag, N'Koulou, Djilobodji, Morais; Maxim, Gradel, Bikel, Riascos; Dragus
Caykur Rizespor possible starting lineup:
Akkan; Korkmaz, Mocsi, Topcu, Pehlivan; Pala, Shelvey, Sauer, Olawoyin, Zeqiri; Minchev
We say: Gaziantep 2-1 Caykur Rizespor
After a very poor start to the season, Gaziantep have started to find form in recent times and bounced back impressively in midweek after their loss to Besiktas last weekend. Rizespor have not done much wrong this season, but we feel they may come up just short against the hosts in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
