Two Turkish Super Lig sides with varying ambitions will face off when Gaziantep welcome Kasimpasa to the Gaziantep Stadium on Sunday evening.
The hosts are battling for survival and are two points away from safety, while the visitors are looking to reach the coveted Europa Conference League spot.
Match preview
Gaziantep suffered their fourth consecutive defeat after losing 3-1 to Ankaragucu at Eryaman Stadium last time out, a run that has seen them concede three goals in each of those games.
The Falcons took an early lead through Marko Jevtovic in the seventh minute, but a brace from Efkan Bekiroglu turned the game around. Ali Sowe added a third goal to extinguish any hopes of a Gaziantep comeback.
Gaziantep's only victory in their last seven matches came against Besiktas on March 11; they have lost five and drawn one during this poor run of form.
Senol Inan's men have now lost 17 of their 32 Super Lig matches this season. They remain firmly in the relegation zone, sitting 17th with 31 points, just two points from safety.
The Falcons will hope to bounce back when they host Kasimpasa on Sunday. However, their home form suggests this will be a tough challenge. Gaziantep are the second-worst team at home, having picked up just 17 points from 16 matches.
Their recent record against Kasimpasa is also concerning. Gaziantep have lost their last five encounters with Sunday's opponents, with their last victory coming in the Turkish Cup in 2022. The hosts desperately need to find a way to end their losing streak if they want to avoid relegation.
Kasimpasa suffered a 2-0 defeat to Konyaspor at the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium in their last outing, conceding a goal in each half of the match.
Sami Ugurlu's side sit in seventh place with 46 points, five points behind fourth-placed Besiktas who have played one more game. They have a good chance of qualifying for European football, but consistency is key as Kasimpasa have alternated between wins and losses in their last four league matches.
They are the fourth-best team on the road this season, with 24 points from 16 away matches and have won their last two away games while looking to make it three in a row on Sunday. Back-to-back victories at the Gaziantep Stadium would be a significant boost to their European aspirations.
However, despite boasting the third-best attack in the league, having scored 55 goals and only bettered by the top two teams, Kasimpasa also have a concerning defensive record. They have conceded 57 goals, only surpassed by the bottom two teams in the league with this defensive fragility being their Achilles' heel all season.
Team News
Gaziantep could remain without Bryan Acosta, as he is yet to fully recover from a groin problem, while Ulas Zengin continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines through a leg injury.
Denis Dragus has 11 goals from 27 matches and will likely spearhead the Falcons' attack in this clash.
Dries Saddiki is also expected to be missing for Kasimpasa due to a hamstring problem, but Erdem Cetinkaya could return to the pitch if he passes a late fitness test.
Nuno Da Costa, who has scored 12 league goals so far, is expected to lead the line once again, with Haris Hajradinovic providing support.
Gaziantep possible starting lineup:
Nita; Ersoy, N'Koulou, Djilobodji, M'Bakata; Ozcicek; Sorescu, Monteiro, Maxim, Eskihellac; Dragus
Kasimpasa possible starting lineup:
Gianniotis; Gedik, Porozo, Ozcan, Aydin; Guel, Thomas; Fall, Hajradinovic, Ouanes; Da Costa
We say: Gaziantep 0-1 Kasimpasa
Gaziantep's winless run looks set to continue against Kasimpasa. The visitors boast a strong away record and will fancy their chances of exploiting Gaziantep's defensive frailties.
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