Two teams looking to bolster their survival hopes in the Turkish Super Lig will go head-to-head on Saturday as Kayserispor host Konyaspor at the Kadir Has Stadium.
The hosts currently occupy the first relegation spot, while the visitors sit two places above them, enjoying a seven-point cushion.
Match preview
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Kayserispor managed to hold Trabzonspor to a goalless draw last time out, avoiding a third consecutive defeat and securing a point in Sergej Jakirovic's first game in charge.
In contrast to recent performances, the Anatolian Star showed attacking intent, creating several chances and forcing the Trabzon goalkeeper into a man-of-the-match display.
However, that result extended their winless run in the league to six matches, with four defeats and two draws since their 2-0 victory over Alanyaspor on December 8.
With 17 points from 20 Super Lig matches, Kayserispor sit six points adrift of safety, and they find themselves in a relegation scrap once again, hoping for a similar escape to last season when they survived by just two points.
Adding to their concerns, the hosts have struggled in recent meetings with Konyaspor, failing to win any of the last 12 encounters—losing seven and drawing five since a 1-0 triumph in 2019.
Jakirovic's side have also been poor at home, collecting just seven points from a possible 30 at the Kadir Has Stadium, making them the second-worst home team in the Super Lig this season.
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Meanwhile, Konyaspor will travel with renewed confidence following a 3-1 victory over Bodrumspor in their last league outing and a Turkish Cup triumph on Tuesday.
Blaz Kramer was back among the goals, netting a brace to secure the Anatolian Eagles' first league win of 2025, which ended a six-match winless streak in the Super Lig.
Things got even better for the Konya-based side as they recorded an identical 3-1 victory over top-flight outfit Eyupspor in the domestic cup a few days later, giving them a chance to win three consecutive games across all competitions for the first time this season.
After narrowly avoiding relegation last term, finishing just one point above the drop zone, Konyaspor will not be content with their current seven-point buffer, and Saturday's clash could prove to be a crucial relegation six-pointer.
However, Recep Ucar's side have been inconsistent on the road this season, failing to win any of their last three away league matches, with two defeats and a draw.
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Team News
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Kayserispor have several injury concerns heading into this fixture, with Julian Jeanvier, Anthony Uzodimma, Lionel Carole and Eray Ozbek all sidelined.
Stephane Bahoken and Joseph Attamah, who were suspended after their red cards against Sivasspor, should be available for selection again.
Meanwhile, Konyaspor will be without Filip Damjanovic and Emmanuel Boateng, both ruled out through injury.
Kramer, who has netted seven goals in his last six appearances across all competitions, will look to continue his red-hot form and make the difference once again.
Kayserispor possible starting lineup:
Bayazit; Sazdagi, Kocaman, Kolovetsios, Kaldirim; Karimi, Yilmaz; Nazon, Cardoso, Mane; Bahoken
Konyaspor possible starting lineup:
Slowik; Ulgun, Demirbag, Bazoer, Guilherme; Jevtovic; Tasci, Pedrinho, Ibrahimoglu, Erdogan; Kramer
We say: Kayserispor 1-1 Konyaspor
Kayserispor's home struggles and Konyaspor's renewed confidence set up a tense battle, and with Kramer in fine form, the visitors have a lifeline to nick something in the clash, which is why we are predicting a stalemate.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
