Europe-chasing Adana Demirspor welcome mid-table Kasimpasa in the Super Lig when both teams face off at the New Adana Stadium on Saturday.
Vincenzo Montella's men look to bounce back from defeat to table-topping Galatasaray in early April, while the Istanbul outfit returned to winning ways in the last round against Trabzonspor.
Match preview
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There is no shame in losing to Galatasaray, even if the 2-0 loss against the champions-elect at the start of April saw Adana slip seven points behind Besiktas.
Montella's men were not at their sharpest hitherto, so defeat in that gameweek was not hard to fathom.
The Blue Lightnings return to Adana this weekend, where they have not tasted defeat all season, seeking a return to winning ways against Kasimpasa.
No team in the Super Lig has conceded fewer than their seven home goals, while only Fenerbahce (37) have scored more than Adana's 29.
Despite drawing two on the trot on their turf before a 2-0 success over Antalyaspor on March 18, Montella and his team are favourites to finally record their 10th victory as hosts in 2022-23.
Kasimpasa will have other ideas, even if their wretched away form makes them underdogs for the round 28 clash at the New Adana Stadium.
Kemal Ozdes's team have not won on the road since last September since defeating Umraniyespor 2-1 and have now gone seven road matches without securing maximum points.
Five consecutive defeats since late December does not bode well for the visiting team's prospects, especially as the recent losses at Hatayspor and Galatasaray ended without them finding the back of the net.
Only four goals have been scored in the ongoing sequence without winning on their travels, a statistic that gives Montella's troops confidence before Saturday.
Despite the poor away record, Ozdes is not embroiled in a relegation scrap because the Istanbul outfit sit eight points ahead of danger as the campaign enters its final stretch.
Adana were victorious in the reverse fixture, thrashing Kasimpasa 4-1 at the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium.
Team News
Younes Belhanda is still suspended after getting sent off for violent conduct against Trabzonspor on March 12, and the Adana player will miss his third game this Saturday.
Montella's lineup could be close to the side he opted for in their last outing at Galatasaray two weeks ago, even though Yusuf Sari could replace Babajide David Akintola, who went off injured at Gala.
Kasimpasa will be without Sadik Ciftpinar, who has not played since January 29's 5-1 success over Giresunspor.
Ali Gholizadeh was absent last week at Trabzonspor, and it remains to be seen if the Charleroi loanee is back for this weekend's visit to Adana.
Adana Demirspor possible starting lineup:
Ozbir; Svensson, Cetin, Guler, Rodrigues; Sari, Stambouli, Ndiaye, Onyekuru; Akbaba, Ndiaye
Kasimpasa possible starting lineup:
Guvenc; Silva, Serbest, Djilobodji, Ozcan; Malsa, Hajradinovic, Eysseric; Eskihellac, Chouair; Fall
We say: Adana Demirspor 2-0 Kasimpasa
While Montella's men must not underrate the Apaches, their impressive home record and Kasimpasa's awful road form mean Adana should back themselves for a routine triumph in front of their fans.
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