Managerless Trabzonspor head to Istanbul to face Kasimpasa on Saturday evening as the reigning Turkish Super Lig champions aim to finish the campaign on a high note.
Sitting 19 points behind table-topping Galatasaray, Trabzonspor will not defend their crown this season, but they will be hopeful of picking up a positive result against relegation-threatened Kasimpasa.
Match preview
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It is easy to understand why Kasimpasa find themselves only five points outside the drop zone, as only three teams have suffered more defeats than the Istanbul outfit this season.
Having lost exactly 50% of their 26 Super Lig matches this term – picking up eight wins and five draws along the way – Kasimpasa remain in real danger of relegation as we head into the business end of the campaign.
That said, Kasimpasa have suffered just two defeats in their last six games to ease relegation fears in recent weeks, with a 5-1 thrashing of Giresunspor preceding a 3-1 victory over Antalyaspor.
Kasimpasa were scheduled to play Gaziantep last weekend, which saw them add three points to their tally due to Gaziantep's withdrawal from this season's competition because of the recent earthquakes in the region.
After taking 11 points from their last six home matches – securing three wins while suffering a solitary defeat – Kasimpasa will fancy their chances of frustrating a befuddled Trabzonspor outfit.
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Trabzonspor parted company with manager Abdullah Avci last month, leaving Orhan Ak in charge until the end of the season, but the caretaker boss resigned following Tuesday's Turkish Cup exit.
The Black Sea Storm failed to book their place in the semi-finals after suffering a 3-1 defeat to Super Lig strugglers Ankaragucu, and now the club is on the hunt for another new manager.
Not only have Trabzonspor lost four of their last six games in all competitions, but they have also lost six of their previous nine, exiting both the Turkish Cup and Europa Conference League while sliding down the Super Lig standings.
Excluding last month's awarded win against Gaziantep, Trabzonspor have lost each of their last four away matches, with a solitary victory coming in their previous 11 encounters on the road.
Sitting eight points shy of the European places with only a handful of games remaining, it would not be unfair to say that the 2021-22 Super Lig champions have experienced a drastic fall from grace this season.
Team News
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Kasimpasa have a couple of injury doubts for Saturday's clash, with Mortadha Ben Ouanes and Sadik Ciftpinar likely to miss out on a place in the matchday squad.
Having racked up five goals and four assists in his last nine league appearances, Mamadou Fall will continue to lead the line, with attacking midfielder Haris Hajradinovic supporting the striker.
Trabzonspor, on the other hand, look set to remain without former Aston Villa winger Trezeguet as he continues to nurse a muscle injury.
There are also question marks over the availability of Abdulkadir Parmak and Dorukhan Tokoz, who are both recovering from knee injuries.
On a brighter note, key playmaker Anastasios Bakasetas returned from injury last weekend, so he will be eager to enhance his tally of 11 goals and 11 assists across all competitions.
Kasimpasa possible starting lineup:
Guvenc; Fabiano, Donk, Djilobodji, Ozcan; Gholizadeh, Eysseric, Malsa, Hajradinovic, Chouiar; Fall
Trabzonspor possible starting lineup:
Cakir; Peres, Turkmen, Denswil, Larsen; Siopis, Haspolat; Bakasetas, Omur, Markovic; Gomez
We say: Kasimpasa 1-1 Trabzonspor
Having made some marked improvements in recent weeks, Kasimpasa look set to frustrate Trabzonspor, who are in a state of disarray following a series of below-par results and two managerial departures in quick succession.
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Top tip
Ben Morris
