Konyaspor will be looking to record their first Turkish Super Lig win since November when they host struggling Istanbulspor on Thursday evening in the Konya Buyuksehir Belediye Stadyumu.
Istanbulspor are embroiled in a relegation battle as the campaign approaches its business end, whereas their hosts Konyaspor will find it very difficult to finish anywhere near their third-placed standing of last season.
Match preview
Konyaspor were massive overachievers in the 2021-22 campaign, finishing in third behind only Trabzonspor and Fenerbahce, allowing them qualification for the Europa Conference League.
That European adventure ended prematurely - an embarrassing loss to Vaduz of the Swiss second division - and the rest of the season to date has followed in disappointing suit.
Aleksandar Stanojevic's men are currently eighth in the Super Lig standings, a mammoth 13 points behind the European places and just eight above the bottom four.
The current run of six games without a victory in the league has seen any faint hopes of reaching Europe in successive seasons fade away - the Anatolian Eagle have only won twice since the start of October and need to address their worrying slide down the table.
After being defeated on penalties by Gaziantep FK in the last-16 stage of the Turkish Cup, Konyaspor can focus purely on league matters until May, and you feel that they will need maximum concentration to avoid an unspeakable relegation battle.
Talking of scraps for survival, Istanbulspor find themselves in a position many touted for them at the start of the campaign - cut adrift at the foot of the Super Lig table.
Sitting in 18th position and five points away from safety, the Bogalar are in real danger of relegation this season but have shows roots of recovery over the past month.
Istanbulspor recorded a crucial 2-0 success over relegation rivals Umraniyespor over a fortnight ago courtesy of strikes from Valon Ethemi and Melih Kabasakal, and before that managed to defeat Kasimpasa on home soil in their final showdown of 2022.
The aforementioned Ethemi has been Fatih Tekke's talisman this season, with the North Macedonian scoring eight times so far, four more than any other player within the Istanbulspor ranks.
Jetmir Topalli has registered four strikes, but remarkably only two players have scored more than once in the Super Lig for one of the division lowest scorers, meaning the attacking burden is heavy for 25-year-old Ethemi.
Team News
Konyaspor will be without midfielder Amir Hadziahmetovic for the visit of Istanbulspor after the 25-year-old suffered a foot injury last week, with Stanojevic hopeful to have the player back in action towards the end of February.
The Anatolian Eagle will also have five-goal striker Muhammet Demir absent for the majority of February due to a shoulder injury, meaning 35-year-old Mame Biram Diouf can expect a prolonged spell in the XI after starting just eight matches so far this season.
Tekke will to keen to freshen up his starting side after successive defeats over the past week, with Topalli and Eduart Rroca pushing for places in the team after substitute appearances last time out.
Istanbulspor could revert to a back four after trying out a five-at-the-back system against Kayserispor on Sunday, meaning 30-year-old defender Adi Mehremic would lose his starting berth.
Konyaspor possible starting lineup:
Sehic; Karayel, Demirbag, Calvo, Guilherme; Ulgun, Dikmen, Michalak, Cekici, Bytyqi; Diouf
Istanbulspor possible starting lineup:
Jensen; Yasar, Erdogan, Yesil, Mehremic, Aksu; Eyenga-Lokilo, Sarikaya, Ba, Ethemi; Eze
We say: Konyaspor 1-0 Istanbulspor
Konyaspor are on a worrying run of form since returning from the World Cup break, but they must feel this fixture is the perfect opportunity to change their fortunes.
Istanbulspor are coming into this clash off the back of two heavy defeats and face a difficult task in getting anything out of their trip to Konya on Thursday evening.
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Top tip
Carter White
