Round nine of the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig season concludes with Bodrumspor hosting Caykur Rizespor at Bodrum Ilce Stadi on Monday evening.
The hosts are hoping to extend their unbeaten streak to four matches, while the visitors are looking to build on their first win in the last six league games.
Match preview
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Bodrum drew for the first time this season, holding Kasimpasa to a goalless draw at Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium just before the international break despite playing the second half with ten men after Taulan Sulejmanov was sent off in first-half stoppage time.
The result extended Ismet Tasdemir's side's unbeaten run to three matches, having picked up consecutive wins over Adana Demirspor and Hatayspor prior.
However, Bodrum slipped one spot to ninth place having picked up 10 points from eight matches, a trend they will hope to avoid by claiming three points against Rizespor in their next game.
It will be the first ever top-flight meeting between both sides, and the third encounter in their history, having previously met twice in the lower division, with both matches ending in defeat for Bodrum.
Tasdemir's men have been inconsistent at home, winning and losing two each of four home matches, with both wins being identical 3-1 scorelines and the defeats being identical 1-0 scorelines.
Meanwhile, Rizespor successfully ended a run of five straight defeats after picking up a 2-1 win over Antalyaspor at Caykur Didi Stadyum before the international break, which also ended a run of five matches without finding the net.
Vaclav Jurecka and Husniddin Aliqulov scored in the last seven minutes of the first half to leave the Black Sea Sparrowhawk with a comfortable lead at the break, and they held on for the win despite conceding a goal in the 88th minute.
Ilhan Palut's side saw their points increase to seven after eight matches, and this helped them climb by one spot to 15th place, stepping out of the relegation zone.
Building on this win will be the goal for Rizespor, but this will require Palut's men to halt a two-match losing streak on the road, though they will be encouraged that their first win in this campaign happened at an away ground.
Team News
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Bodrum will be without Sulejmanov, who is suspended for the match due to the red card he received in their previous outing, while the hosts are also uncertain about the availability of Suleyman Ozdamar and Tunahan Akpinar for the clash.
Mustafa Erdilman is out until next year with a ligament injury, while Christophe Herelle and Gokdeniz Bayrakdar are sidelined until next month with ankle and appendicitis issues respectively.
Jurecka started from the beginning in their last match, replacing Ali Sowe in attack, and he found the net, which should be enough for him to retain his spot for this encounter.
Rizespor will be hoping that Benhur Kese recovers in time from an ankle injury that has kept him out for the last couple of weeks.
However, Rachid Ghezzal and Casper Hojer Nielsen have been confirmed to miss the game due to knee and muscle injuries, respectively.
Bodrumspor possible starting lineup:
Sousa; Celustka, Ajeti, Aytemur, Sen; Aslan, Mohammed; Dimitrov, Brazao, Fredy; Puscas
Caykur Rizespor possible starting lineup:
Grbic; Sahin, Mocsi, Alikulov, Pehlivan; Papanikolaou, Hadziahmetovic; David, Varesanovic, Bulut; Jurecka
We say: Bodrumspor 2-1 Caykur Rizespor
Rizespor may have ended their losing streak last time out, but they are facing a Bodrum side that has shown consistency in recent weeks, which is why we are predicting a home win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
