Following an impressive victory over Istanbul Basaksehir, Kayserispor will aim to extend their winning streak to three games when they visit relegation-threatened Giresunspor on Monday.
Without a win in six league outings, Giresunspor find themselves in the Super Lig drop zone – 11 points behind Kayserispor – as we head towards the business end of the season.
Match preview
When Giresunspor chalked up a four-game unbeaten run across November and December, it looked as though the club would steer clear of relegation trouble, but a lot has changed since then.
In fact, Hakan Keles's side have failed to win any of their six Super Lig encounters since the turn of the year – registering two draws and four defeats – and they have already conceded 16 goals in 2023.
After kicking off the new year with a 3-0 defeat against Trabzonspor, Giresunspor lost 1-0 to Umraniyespor before briefly stopping the rot with back-to-back draws, but they have since suffered two damaging defeats.
Following a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Galatasaray, Keles's men were crushed 5-1 by Kasimpasa last time out, despite taking the lead at Kasimpasa Stadium via Vukan Savicevic's opener.
Having lost each of their last two Super Lig games on home soil – and five of their nine home league clashes this season – Giresunspor could find it difficult to stem the tide against a resurgent Kayserispor outfit.
Kayserispor head into Monday's clash on the back of a 1-0 win against title-chasing Istanbul Basaksehir, courtesy of a second-half goal from Iranian midfielder Ali Karimi.
Following the triumph over 2019-20 Super Lig champions, the Anatolian Star have now won three of their previous four league matches, having sealed high-scoring victories over Sivasspor and Istanbul in January.
After thrashing Sivasspor 4-1, Kayserispor lost 2-0 to Besiktas before defeating Istanbulspor 4-2, with seven different players finding the back of the net across the two routs.
It is also worth noting that Cagdas Atan's side booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Turkish Cup last month, meaning they have the chance to make amends for their defeat to Sivasspor in last season's final.
Having avoided defeat in four of their previous five outings across all competitions, Kayserispor are certainly moving in the right direction, but they cannot afford to rest on their laurels at the Cotanak Sports Complex.
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Team News
Giresunspor look set to be without Kadir Seven on Monday, as the teenage centre-back missed the 5-1 thrashing to Kasimpasa due to injury.
Having netted seven goals this season, top scorer Riad Bajic will continue to lead the line for the hosts, while Borja Sainz – who has six goals and two assists this term – will offer support in attack.
Kayserispor will be without the injured trio of Bernard Mensah, Nurettin Korkmaz and Mario Gavranovic for the trip to Giresun, although the latter is close to making a return following a back problem.
On top of that, Lionel Carole and Olivier Kemen will miss Monday's clash due to suspension, as both players picked up a yellow card in the win over Istanbul Basaksehir.
Dimitrios Kolovetsios could come in to cover for Carole in the backline, while Mame Thiam is expected to replace Kemen in midfield.
Giresunspor possible starting lineup:
Piri; Bilazer, Saglam, Perez, Uludag; Mejia, Campuzona; Serginho, Savicevic, Sainz; Bajic
Kayserispor possible starting lineup:
Bayazit; Bulut, Hosseini, Kocaman, Kolovetsios; Campanharo, Karimi; Bassan, Thiam, Mane; Sazdagi
We say: Giresunspor 1-3 Kayserispor
Having conceded nine goals across their previous two games, Giresunspor look set to suffer another damaging defeat against Kayserispor, who have scored four goals in two of their last three league victories.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Ben Morris
