Both Trabzonspor and Istanbul Basaksehir will be aiming to return to winning ways when they face off in a 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig clash at Papara Park on Saturday.
The two teams are entering this game on the back of draws in their most recent Super Lig matches just before the international break.
Match preview
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It has been an unusual start to the season for Trabzonspor, who are one of the three teams in the Super Lig yet to taste defeat in this campaign, alongside Galatasaray and Besiktas.
The Black Sea Storm have won just one of their seven league matches so far and drawn the remaining six matches, including their most recent league game against Hatayspor.
After drawing their opening five matches, Senol Gunes's men secured their first win of the campaign at the sixth attempt, thanks to a 3-2 home victory over Konyaspor on September 29, but that did not serve as a catalyst, as they could only manage a 1-1 draw with Hatayspor in the following game.
Trabzonspor, who finished third last season, were seen as one of the few teams who could potentially challenge reigning champions Galatasaray for the title, but they are already trailing the league leaders with 13 points, having just nine points on the board.
Already trailing the top four by seven points, the Black Sea Storm will hope to add a second win when they take on an opponent that they have not lost to in the last three encounters between them across all competitions, winning two and drawing one.
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Istanbul Basaksehir salvaged a 1-1 draw with Kayserispor in their most recent match just before the international break, with Krzysztof Piatek scoring in the second half to cancel out Carlos Mane's first-half strike.
The Grey Owls remained in fifth place, having picked up 14 points, two points behind fourth-placed Fenerbahce and eight behind league leaders Galatasaray.
Cagdas Atan's men will hope to return to winning ways, while extending their unbeaten streak to three matches, though they have not won away at Basaksehir since 2020, a run of four competitive games without victory across all competitions.
However, the Grey Owls have performed decently on the road this season in the Super Lig, picking up two wins and a draw in four away matches, only losing away at Samsunspor so far.
Team News
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Trabzonspor's injury list continues to grow, as they have up to six players on the sidelines, including defenders Stefan Savic and Huseyin Turkmen.
Serkan Asan is out with a virus, with his return date uncertain, while Enis Destan has a shoulder injury that will keep him out until later this month.
Stefano Denswil and Anthony Nwakaeme both have muscle-related injuries and are only expected back in action in early November.
Meanwhile, Istanbul have just one confirmed absentee, Omer Ali Sahiner, who is sidelined with a muscle injury until late-October.
Twenty-eight-year-old defender Leo Duarte is a doubt for the game, as he must recover in time from a muscle issue.
Trabzonspor possible starting lineup:
Cakir; Malheiro, Mendy, Saatci, Elmali; Yokuslu, Lundstram; Visca, Bardhi, Dragus; Banza
Istanbul Basaksehir possible starting lineup:
Sengezer; Gureler, Lima, Opoku, Kemen; Ozdemir; Turuc, Pelkas, Davdson, Uzcan; Piatek
We say: Trabzonspor 1-1 Istanbul Basaksehir
Trabzonspor have the second-best defence in the league at present, but they have lacked attacking potency, which has seen them fail to score in three of seven Super Lig matches.
Although Istanbul have struggled in this fixture in recent years, we expect them to have enough to overcome the hosts' defence and secure at least a draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
