Cellar-dwelling Istanbulspor welcome Europe-chasing Trabzonspor when the Turkish Super Lig resumes on Tuesday, with the round 17 clash to be played at Esenyurt Necmi Kadioglu Stadium.
Both sides face off a week on from the competition's suspension after Ankaragucu's now-banned president, Faruk Koca, punched referee Halil Umut Meler after their home match against Caykur Rizespor.
Match preview
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Following back-to-back defeats, the Super Lig's suspension meant Istanbulspor got much-needed respite, and they hope to benefit from the hiatus when they return to action this week.
Hakan Yakin has been unable to get the Bulls back on track since replacing Fatih Tekke in mid-October, even if the club's two victories this season have come under the former Turkey international.
The goals have dried up for Yakin's men in recent gameweeks, underscored by firing blanks in three of the previous four gameweeks, having found the back of the net in four consecutive matches under their new boss.
It remains to be seen if the goals come on Tuesday, with none scored in 180 minutes of action against Fatih Karagumruk (3-0) and Alanyaspor (1-0).
Their results against Trabzonspor since gaining promotion give little optimism, with the Bulls conceding six without reply against this week's visitors.
The away side will be aware of their 100% record against Istanbulspor, and they go into Tuesday's game seeking to make it three wins on the trot after last season's 2-0 and 4-0 victories.
A 1-0 loss to Kayserispor saw Abdullah Avci's team slip to fourth place, three points behind the former, but the Trabzon-based club could return to third if they secure maximum points and the third-placed club lose to title-chasing Fenerbahce.
Undefeated in four straight road games, the Black Sea Storm are keen to extend that sequence to five, even if they hope to pick up three points in the gameweek 17 match.
With 50% of their four-game away run without a loss ending in draws, maximum points against teams they are expected to beat puts them in good stead to compete with Kayserispor in third.
Trabzonspor have scored three goals each in games against Fenerbahce (3-2), Sivasspor (3-3) and Gaziantep (3-1), and they hope to keep their forwards firing for Tuesday's encounter.
Team News
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Eduart Rroca is the home side's only reported absentee, with the midfield man not expected back from a hamstring injury in January.
Florian Loshaj and Mendy Mamadou scored in Istanbulspor's last win, and the former should start in midfield for the hosts.
Trabzonspor are not expected to welcome back Umut Bozok (thigh), Nicolas Pepe (back) and Mislav Orsic (ACL) until late December, January and March, respectively.
Paul Onuachu has found the net seven times for the Trabzon outfit, and the Nigeria international could add to his tally against the league's worst club.
Istanbulspor possible starting lineup:
Arda; Duhaney, Deli, Erdogan, Yasar; Loshaj, Sarikaya; Santos, Ethemi, Ndao; Gultekin
Trabzonspor possible starting lineup:
Cakir; Larsen, Mendy, Denswil, Elmali; Ozdemir; Visca, Omur, Trezeguet, Bakasetas; Onuachu
We say: Istanbulspor 1-2 Trabzonspor
While Trabzonspor may not score as many as three this time, the fourth-placed outfit should have too much for the league's bottom side.
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