Antalyaspor could move into fifth position in the Turkish Super Lig table by beating Sivasspor on Wednesday.
The visitors, meanwhile, would move one point behind their opponents if they can pull off an away victory.
Match preview
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Having spent 14 of the past 15 seasons competing in the Turkish Super Lig, Antalyaspor have established themselves as a stable club in more recent years. Since gaining promotion in 2015, they have finished in the top half in five of the eight ensuing campaigns, but they only survived by a solitary point last time out.
As such, to be sitting closer to the European qualification places than the relegation zone after 21 matches represents decent progress for the Scorpions. Sergen Yalcin has been drafted in as the club's new manager in recent weeks, and the former Besiktas boss has made an unbeaten start to his tenure with two wins and three draws in all competitions.
The latest of those results came via a 1-1 draw away to Konyaspor at the weekend, with Adam Buksa striking in the second half to cancel out former Sevilla midfielder Steven Nzonzi's effort just before half time. Both sides struggled to muster many shots on target, making a draw the fairest outcome in the end.
Having been held by Alanyaspor and Trabzonspor in his two league games at Antalya Stadium, Yalcin will be desperate for his players to earn their first home victory in the Turkish Super Lig under his management on Wednesday evening. Doing so would increase their chances of competing in a European competition for the first time in more than two decades.
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Sivasspor, of course, competed in European competitions three seasons running in recent seasons, having finished fourth and fifth in 2019-20 and 2020-21 respectively, before winning their first ever major honours in the form of the Turkish Cup in 2022.
However, like their forthcoming opponents, the Braves only survived by a single point on a pulsating final matchday last season. The current campaign represents their 19th season of the last 20 competing in the Turkish Super Lig, so falling outside of the top division would have been a major blow.
With only five points between themselves and the relegation zone ahead of travelling to Antalya in midweek, Sivasspor will retain concerns of suffering that fate later this year. Their similarities with Antalyaspor do not end with their disappointing last season, having also changed managers in the New Year when bringing in their former manger Bulent Uygun for a second spell at the club.
After winning his first match in charge away to Kayserispor, two draws and a defeat have followed in the league, including a 2-2 draw at home to Gaziantep FK on Sunday. Having led via two converted penalties by Rey Manaj within the opening 15 minutes, Uygun would have been left furious by his side throwing away that early advantage, and the 52-year-old will be urging an instant reaction on Wednesday.
Team News
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The dust appears to have settled at Antalyaspor following their decision to sack Israel forward Sagiv Jehezkel last week. The 28-year-old made a pro-Israeli gesture after equalising against Trabzonspor, leading to him being arrested before subsequently returning to Tel Aviv.
Yalcin has a clean bill of health to report on at present, meaning that he may select the same starting XI which earned another draw against Konyaspor. That would mean former Nottingham Forest striker Britt Assombalonga having to make an impact from the bench once again.
Sivasspor, meanwhile, are without Ahmed Musa and Clinton N'Jie, who are competing for Nigeria and Cameroon respectively at the Africa Cup of Nations. Charis Charisis, Caner Osmanpasa, Alaaddin Okumus, and Hakan Arslan are all doubtful due to injury or illness.
Former Watford striker Manaj will almost certainly lead the line once more after scoring a brace on Sunday, while ex-Reading winger Modou Barrow will be hoping to receive the nod to support the target man within the visitors' offensive unit once more.
Antalyaspor possible starting lineup:
Leite; Yesilyurt, Sari, Ozturk, Vural; Bytyqi, Safouri, Kaluzinski, Saric, Larsson; Buksa
Sivasspor possible starting lineup:
Vural; Kapacak, Appindangoye, Camara, Ciftci; Pougouras, Kvet, Erdal; Bassan, Manaj, Barrow
We say: Antalyaspor 1-1 Sivasspor
Both sides have drawn more games than they have won or lost this season, meaning that we can envisage them sharing the spoils once again when they meet on Wednesday evening.
The hosts have made an unbeaten start under their new manager, while the visitors will be keen to avoid defeat and potentially move further away from the relegation zone in the process.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Brett Curtis
