Samsunspor will host Konyaspor at Samsun's 19 Mayis Stadyumu in the fifth round of the 2024-25 Turkish Super League season on Saturday.
The hosts are entering this match, looking to build on a two-game winning streak, while the visitors are hoping to end a three-match winless.
Match preview
© Reuters
Samsunspor have bounced back impressively since their opening-day defeat to Besiktas, winning their two subsequent matches, the most recent being a convincing 3-0 victory away at Hatayspor.
Arbnor Muja, Marius Mouandilmadji, and Olivier Ntcham were all on target in this win which propelled Samsunspor to seventh in the standings with six points from three games.
Thomas Reis, who succeeded Markus Gisdol in June, will be satisfied with his team's form on the road, where they have scored four times without conceding – however, he will hope they can replicate this success at home.
Samsunspor have lost their only home match so far this season without scoring and have failed to win their last two home matches, dating back to the previous campaign.
The Red Lightning will welcome Konyaspor to Samsun 19 Mayis Stadyumu, aiming to end their home winless streak and secure their first top-flight victory in this fixture since 1991.
© Imago
Meanwhile, Konyaspor are heading into this fixture hoping to end a three-match winless streak – the Anatolian Eagles are yet to record another league win since a 3-2 away victory over Kasımpasa on the opening day.
Ali Camdali's side lost 2-1 to Galatasaray and 3-1 to newly-promoted Bodrumspor, before settling for a goalless draw with Kayserispor in their most recent match.
These results leave the Konya-based side with four points from a possible 12 and in ninth place heading into the away clash with Samsunspor.
The Anatolian Eagles have won just one of their last four away matches in the Super Lig, dating back to the previous season, while they have lost twice and drawn one.
Team News
© Imago
Samsunspor are likely to be without Emre Kilinc for this fixture due to a jaw injury that has left him doubtful.
Mouandilmadji, who scored his first goal of the season, will aim to score in consecutive matches as he is expected to lead the line for the hosts.
Muja, Ntcham, and Carlo Holse, each with one goal this season, are anticipated to play behind the striker and contribute to the team's scoring.
Konyaspor will continue to be without summer signing Josip Calusic, who is recovering from a ligament injury and is not expected to return until October.
Pedrinho has scored twice for the hosts this season, the most of any player on the team, and is expected to remain part of the attacking quartet for this match.
Samsunspor possible starting lineup:
Kocuk; Yvaru, Satka, Drongelen, Bola; Bennasser; Schindler, Holse, Ntcham, Muja; Mouandilmadji
Konyaspor possible starting lineup:
Slowik; Boranijasevic, Yazgili, Demirbag, Guilherme; Jevtovic, Ulgun; Aleksic, Pedrinho, Erdogan; Nayir
We say: Samsunspor 1-1 Konyaspor
Konyaspor has been undefeated in this fixture across all competitions since 2005, however, many of the matches with Samsunspor since then have ended in a draw, and given this history and the recent form of both teams, we anticipate a draw in this clash.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
