Goztepe SK will be hoping to swiftly recover from their first defeat of the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig season when they host Sivasspor at Goztepe Gursel Aksel Stadi (Izmir) on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the visitors, whose two-match unbeaten streak ended, will also be aiming to avoid consecutive league defeats.
Match preview
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Goztepe saw their unbeaten start to life in the top flight come to an end in a dramatic 4-3 defeat to Samsunspor at Samsun 19 Mayis Stadium last Saturday.
Stanimir Stoilov's side appeared to be in control 50 minutes into the game, leading 3-1 thanks to a first-half own goal from Zeki Yavru and second-half goals from Romulo Cardoso and Juan – however, they conceded three goals between the 70th minute and the 91st minute to lose the game.
Goztepe drew their opening three matches before following it up with two wins in a row and their most recent defeat, which has left them in seventh place with nine points.
After facing their first major setback this season, Goztepe's ability to bounce back will be tested when they host Sivasspor, a side they have not lost to in their last two meetings.
The hosts have been solid at home dating back to the previous season when they were in the second division, maintaining a 15-match unbeaten run at home in competitive matches, including the three they have played in the top-flight this season.
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Sivasspor suffered their third Super Lig defeat of the season with a 2-1 loss to Istanbul Basaksehir at the Yeni Sivas 4 Eylul Stadyumu last Friday.
The result saw Bulent Uygun's side slip to 12th in the league table with eight points, having won and drawn two each from seven matches played so far.
After a win and a draw in their opening two matches, the Braves recorded two consecutive defeats before securing another win and a draw – having lost their last matches, they will be hoping to avoid a similar pattern of two successive losses.
However, the visitors have failed to win in their last two away matches, losing and drawing one each, while they have won only three times in 10 visits to Goztepe.
Team News
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Goztepe will continue to be without Lasse Nielsen, who is sidelined with an ankle injury and is not expected to return until later this month, as well as Kubilay Kanatsizkus, who is out with the same issue.
Isaac Solet is the third player sidelined with injury, as the 23-year-old midfielder has a head injury that is set to keep him out for some time.
Sivasspor will be missing Mehmet Albayrak, who remains sidelined as he continues his recovery from an ACL injury and is only anticipated to return in April.
Alaaddin Okumus will also miss the game with an ankle injury, while Rey Manaj is sidelined with a muscle issue.
Goztepe SK possible starting lineup:
Lis; Altikardes, Heliton, Bokele; Bayrak, Dennis, Matsuki, Silva; Erdogan; Cardoso, Juan
Sivasspor possible starting lineup:
Vural; Paluli, Sundberg, Radakovic, Ciftci; Moutoussamy, Charisis; Balde, Bieganski, Rodrigues; Koita
We say: Goztepe SK 2-1 Sivasspor
Goztepe have been solid at home, and we believe they will be driven by their home support to secure a victory against a Sivasspor side that has been rather inconsistent on the road.
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