Caykur Rizespor host Konyaspor in a clash of contrasting fates at Estadio Caykur Didi on Saturday morning.
The visitors are struggling to escape the relegation mire while the hosts are looking to break into the top four.
Match preview
Rizespor, fresh from promotion back to Turkey's top flight last season, enjoyed an impressive first half of the campaign and aim to build on that by securing European qualification.
However, the Black Sea Sparrowhawks have struggled with consistency, with a 4-0 hammering by Fatih Karagumruk last time out highlighting their difficulties.
Despite the defeat, Ilhan Palut's side remain fifth with 35 points from 23 matches, just one point shy of fourth-placed Besiktas, putting them firmly in the top-four mix thanks to a fine run between mid-November and early January which resulted in an impressive seven-game unbeaten streak during this period where they amassed 15 points with four wins and three draws.
Rizespor return home, where they have been formidable this season, picking up 26 points from a possible 36 to make them the third-best home team in the league so far. They have also won two on the bounce in front of their own fans, and will look to extend that streak in a bid to match their run of four consecutive home wins between November and January.
The Black Sea Sparrowhawks head into this fixture brimming with confidence, not only due to their home form, but also their recent record against Saturday's opponents who they have beaten three times in their last five meetings, while losing once and drawing the other.
Meanwhile, Konyaspor have suffered a significant drop-off this term after a comfortable mid-table finish in the Super Lig last season. They have managed just four league wins so far, alongside nine draws and nine losses.
The Anatolian Eagles only managed two victories in their first 12 league matches this season, but did show signs of improvement after returning from the November international break, losing just one of their next five matches up to Christmas.
However, 2024 began with a couple of tricky fixtures that ended in heavy back-to-back defeats. First, a 3-0 loss to Galatasaray, followed by a 7-1 thrashing at the hands of Fenerbahce, led to Hakan Keles's sacking after just 76 days in charge.
Fahrudin Omerovic was then appointed to steer Konya to safety, and the 62-year-old kicked off his tenure with consecutive 1-1 draws in his first two matches in charge, before succumbing 3-2 to İstanbul Basaksehir last time out.
The loss was a cruel one for the Anatolian Eagles, who held a 2-0 lead at half-time before conceding three goals in the second half, the last in stoppage time.
Konya sit three points adrift of safety, and a win this weekend would significantly boost their chances of survival. However, they have only one away victory on the board this season, which came five months ago against Basaksehir.
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Team News
Rizespor will be without Azubuike Okechukwu as he looks to recover from a sprained ankle.
They will also be without Khusniddin Alikulov, who is away on international duty with Uzbekistan at the AFC Asian Cup.
Adolfo Gaich will continue to lead the line, having notched up a joint-team-high tally of nine goals so far this season.
Konyaspor will be without the services of Gokhan Tore (ligament tear), Adil Demirbag and Muhammet Demir (ACL) for this match, with all three players ruled out due to injury.
Soner Dikmen will also be forced into a watching brief as he serves a one-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards.
Caykur Rizespor possible starting lineup:
Akkan; Sahin, Mocsi, Topcu, Hojer; Shelvey, Olawoyin; Keser, Varesanovic, Zeqiri; Gaich
Konyaspor possible starting lineup:
Slowik; Oguz, Yazgili, Damjanovic, Haubert; Subasi, Cicaldau, N'Zonzi; Moreno, Cikalleshi, Prip
We say: Caykur Rizespor 1-0 Konyaspor
Determined to bounce back after their recent setback, Rizespor will likely view this as a golden opportunity to get back on track, especially considering Konyaspor's recent struggles. However, Konyaspor have shown a newfound fighting spirit under Omerovic and will not make it easy for the hosts. That said, Rizespor's formidable home record suggests they might just have the edge to come away with the victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
