Round 28 of the Turkish Super Lig resumes on Friday evening with Kasimpasa hosting Sivasspor at Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium.
The hosts are coming into this fixture after failing to win in their last two matches, while the visitors are unbeaten in their last five league games.
Match preview
Kasimpasa's European aspirations took a hit after losing 2-1 to Fenerbahce last time out, making it two matches in a row without a win.
The Apaches took the lead two minutes before the hour mark courtesy of Jackson Porozo, but the lead did not last long as Mert Hakan Yandas restored parity six minutes later.
With the game looking to end in a draw, Michy Batshuayi netted the winner in the sixth minute of stoppage time to condemn Kasimpasa to their only defeat in February.
Before the defeat, Sami Ugurlu's side were on a four-match unbeaten streak, winning three consecutive matches between late January to early February, as they edged closer to the top four.
However, they are now seven points behind third and fourth-placed Trabzonspor and Besiktas in fifth place with 39 points from 27 matches.
With the away side coming out on top in the last five encounters between Kasimpasa and Sivasspor, the Apaches will be cautious ahead of Friday's meeting.
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Sivasspor stretched their unbeaten streak in the league to five games, picking up 10 points from 15 available after drawing two and winning the other three matches.
The Braves started the run with a hardfought 1-0 victory over Besiktas, followed by a goalless draw with Ankaragucu, then another 1-0 win over Caykur Rizespor, and a 1-1 draw with Hatayspor before a convincing 4-1 win over Pendikspor in their last outing.
Sivasspor went behind in the 16th minute after Gokcan Kaya found the net for Pendikspor, but four unreplied goals from Queensy Menig, Caner Osmanpasa, Rey Manaj and Bengali-Fode Koita turned it around for Bulent Uygun's side.
The run has lifted them to sixth place on the table with 37 points, nine points off the last European spot.
The Braves will look to stretch their unbeaten run to six matches as they travel to Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium, a place where they have won in their last two visits.
However, a run of four away matches without a win without a win will leave some doubts on the minds of Uygun's men.
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Team News
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Kasimpasa will be without Samuel Bastien, who has been ruled out since October due to a severe injury.
Turkish midfielder Erdem Cetinkaya and Dries Saddiki are also doubtful and will have to pass a late fitness test to feature.
Nuno da Costa has scored nine goals in the league and is expected to spearhead the attack once again on Friday.
Sivasspor will be without Alaaddin Okumus, Roman Kvet and Ahmed Musa, who are all sidelined with varying degrees of injuries.
Manaj will look to add to his club leading 14 goals in the Super Lig as he leads the line once again.
Kasimpasa possible starting lineup:
Gianniotis; Winck, Ciftpinar, Ozcan, Omeruo; Guel, Kara; Fall, Hajradinovic, Caglayan; Da Costa
Sivasspor possible starting lineup:
Vural; Poungouras, Appindangoye, Camara; Paluli, Charisis, Elmaz, Bassan, Ciftci; NJie, Manaj
We say: Kasimpasa 1-2 Sivasspor
The away side have come out on top in the last five fixtures between these sides and we think this trend will continue. Sivasspor are unbeaten in their last five matches and look like a side that can grind out a win here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
