Istanbulspor and Hatayspor get round 13 of the Turkish Super Lig underway when they go head to head at the Necmi Kadioglu Sports Complex on Saturday.
Having failed to win any of their previous seven meetings between the sides, the Bogalar will head into the weekend desperate to get one over the visitors and pick up their first win in the last four weeks.
Match preview
Istanbulspor failed to stop the rot as they suffered a 1-0 defeat against Caykur Rizespor at the Estadio Caykur Didi in their last outing just before the international break.
Former Newcastle United midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, who is currently on loan from Nottingham Forest, grabbed the headlines as he netted the only goal of the game to fire the hosts to their fifth win of the season.
While this result saw Rizespor snap a three-game losing streak, Istanbulspor have now lost each of their last five matches across all competitions, including a disappointing 3-2 loss to third-tier Antalya Kepezspor in the Turkish Cup on November 1.
Istanbulspor's last and only victory this season came on October 22, when they edged out Ankaragucu 2-1 on home turf courtesy of goals from Djakaridja Traore and Emir Kaan Gultekin.
With just five points from 12 matches, Vural Onen's men are currently rooted to the bottom of the Turkish Super Lig standings, five points behind 16th-placed Konyaspor just outside the relegation zone.
While Istanbulspor will be looking to find their feet this weekend and get their quest for survival up and running, next up is an opposing side who they have failed to get the better of in their last seven encounters, losing four and claiming three draws since November 2015.
Hatayspor, on the other hand, picked up three huge points last time out when they stunned a star-studded Galatasaray side to a 2-1 victory at the Mersin Stadium.
After falling behind to Rigoberto Rivas's early strike, Wilfried Zaha restored parity with a 28th-minute effort, but Didier Lamkel Ze found the back of the net 10 minutes into the second half to hand the hosts all three points.
Prior to that, Volkan Demirel's men were on a three-game losing streak in the Super Lig, suffering defeats against Fenerbahce, Kayserispor and newly-promoted Samsunspor respectively.
While Hatayspor have struggled for consistency in the league, they have reached the fourth round of the Turkish Cup courtesy of a 2-0 victory over second-tier Sariyer on October 31.
The Star of the South have now picked up four wins, five draws and lost three of their 12 league matches so far to collect 17 points and sit ninth in the table, level on points with 10th-placed Caykur Rizespor.
While Hatayspor will look to pick up where they left off before the international break, they have struggled to get going away from home, where they are currently on a five-game winless run, losing twice and claiming three draws since a 5-1 victory over Pendikspor in August's league opener.
Team News
Okan Erdogan was forced off injured just before the half-time break against Caykur Rizespor last time out and the German centre-back is a doubt for this weekend's clash.
Should he fail to shake off the injury in time for the game, Gabon international David Sambissa will push for a place in the XI, forming the back three with Simon Deli and Mehmet Yesil.
Meanwhile, Hatayspor will take to the pitch without the services of 31-year-old defender Kamil Ahmet Corekci, who has missed each of the last three games through a muscle injury.
Summer arrival Oluwafisayo Dele-Bashiru has been an inspired signing for the Star of the South and the Nigerian midfielder, who has started 11 of the 12 league games so far and has four goals and two assists under his belt, will be one to keep an eye on.
Ze was involved in both goals against Galatasaray last time out and the 27-year-old should spearhead Hatayspor's attack once again, alongside Rivas and Azerbaijan international Renat Dadashov.
Istanbulspor possible starting lineup:
Jensen; Erdogan, Yesil, Deli; Duhaney, Vorobjovas, Sarikaya, Yasar; Ndao, Mamadou, Gultekin
Hatayspor possible starting lineup:
Kardesler; Alici, Kilama, Demir, Ghoulam; Dele-Bashiru, Matondo, Rivas; Beyaz, Ze, Dadashov
We say: Istanbulspor 1-2 Hatayspor
Hatayspor's victory over Galatasaray just before the international break should give them the needed morale boost and help them steady their ship after a tough few weeks. Demirel's men take on an Istanbulspor side who have struggled to find their footing this season 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.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
