Besiktas will be hoping to kickstart the new year with a positive result when they host Kasimpasa at the Tupras Stadyumu in the Turkish Super Lig on Friday evening.
The hosts are currently in fifth place in the league standings with 29 points after 17 matches, while the visitors have managed 23 points over the same period and are ninth.
Match preview
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On-field turmoil and off-field drama have choked Besiktas' title aspirations, leaving them 15 points adrift of the runaway league leaders Fenerbahce and Galatasaray before the midway point of the campaign.
However, the Black Eagles concluded last year on a winning note with a 2-1 victory against Hatayspor away from home last time out, ending a three-match winless run in the Super Lig.
Semih Kilicsoy and Omar Colley gave Besiktas a comfortable lead before Armin Hodzic pulled one back for Hatay in an attempt for a comeback, but it was not to be.
Following that defeat to Alanyaspor, Riza Calimbay was sacked as head coach after a month in charge and just seven matches in total, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer being rumoured as his potential replacement.
However, interim manager Serdar Topraktepe, who has been tasked with steadying the ship, has got off on a good note, and a home win against Kasimpasa on Friday could see him earn the trust of the owners to be in charge for a little longer than planned.
After going unbeaten in their opening six home matches, Besiktas have lost the last two in front of their home fans to Alanyaspor and Fenerbahce by an identical 3-1 scoreline.
Topraktepe's men will, however, have a good level of confidence heading into Friday's clash, against an opponent that has won just once in their last 10 visits to the Tupras Stadyumu.
Meanwhile, Kasimpasa are struggling to secure maximum points at the moment, having gone three matches without a win after the 2-2 draw with Caykur Rizespor last time out.
The Apaches have just one win in their last seven league matches, which was a 4-2 victory over Gaziantep on December 3.
Despite the recent struggles, Kasimpasa are sitting comfortably in ninth place heading into the new year, six points behind fourth-placed Kayserispor.
The visitors will hope to put an end to their poor away run on Friday, having lost three while recording one draw in their last four matches on the road.
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Team News
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In the midst of the turmoil behind the scenes at Besiktas, the club decided to banish five first-team players including Vincent Aboubakar, Valentin Rosier, Eric Bailly, Rachid Ghezzal and Jean Onana.
According to the club's statement, the reasoning for the decision was poor performance and incompatibility within the team.
Bailly has now left to join Villarreal in Spain, while the others might follow suit during the current winter transfer window.
Aside from those exiled, Besiktas also have five injury absentees for this one, including Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Necip Uysal, Gedson Fernandes, Umut Meras and Emrecan Uzunhan.
Centre-back Daniel Amartey has also left to join the Ghanaian national team ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations which kicks off on January 13, with Aytug Komec expected to replace him.
Meanwhile, the visitors will continue to be without on-loan Burnley midfielder Samuel Bastien, who has not played since early October due to an unspecified issue.
Former Nottingham Forest marksman Nuno Da Costa, is expected to spearhead the attack in an identical 4-2-3-1.
Besiktas possible starting lineup:
Gunok; Bulut, Komec, Colley, Masuaku; Ucan, Hadziahmetovic, Rashica; Muleka, Tosun, Kilicsoy
Kasimpasa possible starting lineup:
Gianniotis; Winck, Omeruo, Ciftpinar, Ozcan; Gul, Kara; Fall, Hajradinovic, Ben Ouanes; Da Costa
We say: Besiktas 2-1 Kasimpasa
Besiktas seem to have rediscovered their confidence under interim manager Topraktepe, and will be keen to prove a point in front of their home fans.
Kasimpasa, on the other hand, are struggling to get over the line, and the situation does not look like it will change soon.
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