Ankaragucu host Fatih Karagumruk on Saturday in a clash that could define both clubs' seasons as they battle against the drop in the Turkish Super Lig at the Eryaman Stadyumu.
After a defeat in their last outing against Gaziantep, Ankaragucu will be looking to rebound in their quest to avoid relegation this season, while Fatih Karagumruk will gain confidence from their 1-1 draw against Besiktas in their most recent affair.
Match preview
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It has been an up-and-down season since regaining promotion to the Turkish Super Lig last term for Ankaragucu. A winless start to the season saw their survival chances appearing to be slim, however, a string of five games without a defeat in the league revamped their survival chances promptly.
However, since going on the five-game streak Omer Erdogan's men have been in slightly wobbly form, with little consistency in their results.
This proved to be the case in their 2-0 home defeat to Gaziantep last time out, when Papy Djilobodji put the visitors 1-0 up early in the second half before Joao Figueiredo's 97th-minute strike put the possibility of points out of the equation for Ankaragucu.
With the relegation battle being so tight, it will be crucial that Ankaragucu continue to amass points as the hosts are only one point away from Giresunspor in 16th position.
Ankaragucu will need to be wary of Fatih Karagumruk's attacking threat in this fixture to avoid a similar outcome to the one they suffered in their previous head-to-head this season, as they were demolished in a 4-1 thrashing away at the Ataturk Olimpiyat Stadi.
However, it will be in the attack that they themselves can hurt their opponents, as Fatih Karagumruk can be hurt by incisive passes through their lines, which is a strength of Erdogan's side.
Meanwhile, Fatih Karagumruk are in a similar predicament in the league to the hosts, as they currently occupy the position above their opponents, sitting 11th in the Super Lig.
Since taking over at the beginning of the season Andrea Pirlo has implemented a free-scoring attacking style to his side, which has seen them score the third-highest quantity of goals in the division, behind only Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.
The attacking style that the side have adopted has not come without flaws this season, though, as Pirlo's side have been a mess at times defensively, conceding the joint-second most goals in the league, alongside Kasimpasa and Umraniyespor with 40 goals conceded.
However, after a poor start to the season, Fatih Karagumruk have begun to pick up points on a more regular basis, as they have gone unbeaten in the league in their last six games, having impressively drawn 1-1 with Besiktas in their last fixture.
These results will give them confidence heading into the second half of the season and will give them the belief that they can secure a result in this fixture against fellow relegation battlers, as they know they can hurt any side in the division in forward areas.
Fabio Borini will be key in this fixture, as the Italian is having a sensational season in front of goal, earning himself a second position on the Super Lig top scorers list with 12 goals in the league this season.
Team News
Ankaragucu are set to make one change to the starting XI that lost 2-0 against Gaziantep in their last fixture.
Tolga Cigerci will not feature anymore for Ankaragucu as he has signed for Hertha Berlin and will be replaced in a formation change by Giorgi Beridze with Ghayas Zahid expected to make a positional shift into central attacking midfield.
Atakan Cankaya will continue to deputise at right-back in place of the injured Kevin Malcuit.
Andrea Pirlo is expected to make two changes to his side that drew 1-1 against Besiktas on Tuesday.
Davide Biraschi will be unavailable for selection as he will serve a one-match suspension in this fixture, with Salih Dursun being the natural replacement at right-back.
Mbaye Diagne is also expected to return to the side in place of Colin Kazim-Richards, as the Senegalese forward has been a near ever-present this season, scoring 10 goals in the league.
Adem Ljajic has reportedly returned to training with the squad, however, lacks the match fitness to be available for selection in this match.
Ankaragucu possible starting lineup:
Akkan; Cankaya, Radakovic, Mujakic, Marlon; Diack, Antalyali; Kilinc, Zahid, Beridze; Sowe
Fatih Karagumruk possible starting lineup:
Sen; Dursun, Baniya, Dresevic, Mercan; Ricci; Colley, Bertolacci, Ozdoev, Borini; Diagne
We say: Ankaragucu 0-2 Fatih Karagumruk
We believe that this match will be decided upon the greater attacking threat with Fatih Karagumruk carrying a lethal duo of Fabio Borini and Mbaye Diagne up top which will prove too much to handle for Ankaragucu.
We also think that, despite having a poor defensive record, Fatih Karagumruk will collect only their fourth clean sheet of the season and will win this affair 2-0.
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