Currently third from bottom, 18th-placed Hatayspor Kulubu are set to host 14th-placed MKE Ankaragucu at the Mersin Stadium on Sunday as part of a pivotal relegation clash in the Turkish Super Lig.
Hatayspor are five points behind their opponents but with just three games remaining they are running out of time to escape the four relegation spots, while Ankaragucu have the opportunity take one step closer to securing their place in the Super Lig next season.
Match preview
© Reuters
Home side Hatayspor's tally of 34 points means that they are three from safety, and with challenging games against league giants Besiktas and ninth-placed Rizespor to come, victory on Sunday is vital for their chances of survival.
To make matters worse, manager Volkan Demirel resigned in mid-April following three successive losses that left the club in 16th, and though Ozhan Pulat was appointed to the position on May 3, his side are now two places lower than when Demirel left with little time remaining to rectify the situation.
To Pulat's credit, he did arrest a run of four straight league defeats with a 1-1 draw against Gaziantep in their most recent Super Lig fixture last weekend, but he will be disappointed that his side failed to take advantage considering that Gaziantep are just one point above them in the table.
Hatayspor began their league season positively and were unbeaten in their first eight games, a run that included three wins, four clean sheets and 14 goals scored.
However, they have since lost 15 of 27 league fixtures, winning just four times in this period while conceding 42 times.
Perhaps Pulat will find some optimism in the fact that his side have been significantly better at home than away, collecting 22 of their 34 points at the Mersin Stadium.
© Reuters
On the other hand, Hatayspor have lost their last two home games and Sunday's opponents will no doubt feel that the game could be an invaluable opportunity to gain three points and move closer to securing safety.
Ankaragucu have 39 points and are four clear of the relegation zone, and though victory this weekend does not ensure survival, it would put them in an advantageous position with just two games remaining.
Manager Emre Belozoglu took over from Tolunay Kafkas in October 2023 after his predecessor had overseen a poor start to season, during which the team won just once in the first seven Super Lig games.
Belozoglu's reign began positively with the former Inter Milan and Newcastle midfielder winning three of his first six league fixtures, but he has only won four of his subsequent 22 games, losing six times in this period.
Ankaragucu come into the game in somewhat more positive form than their hosts, having drawn their last two fixtures and losing just once in their last six.
However, their away form has been a concern and they have registered just two wins on the road in the Super Lig this season. In fact, Ankaragucu have failed to win any away league games in their last 10.
With this in mind, Hatayspor must capitalise if they have any ambition of staying in the division.
Team News
© Reuters
Hatayspor currently have no injuries or suspensions to report and should be able to field a full-strength team this weekend.
Considering that Sunday's game will only be Ozhan Pulat's second game in charge, it would be surprising if many changes were made from his initial outing.
Expect Carlos Strandberg, who is his side's top scorer with seven league goals, to start up front, while attacking midfielder Oluwafisayo Dele-Bashiru will likely continue behind him.
As for the away side, Ankaragucu have relatively few injuries with only defender Alper Uludag absent due to a muscle injury that should keep him out until later this month.
Romanian midfielder Olimpiu Morutan is also absent because of a cruciate ligament injury that has ruled him out of action until early next year.
Nominal right-back Stelios Kitsiou has started as a left-back in his side's last two league games, and could be in line for a third start in this role.
Elsewhere, midfielder Efkan Bekiroglu's tally of nine Super Lig goals makes him Ankaragucu's leading goalscorer, and he can be expected to start behind striker Ali Sowe.
Hatayspor possible starting lineup:
Kardesler; Ghoulam, Yilmaz, Kilama, Corekci; Massanga, Fernandes, Dele-Bashiru, Boudjemma, Sinik; Strandberg
Ankaragucu possible starting lineup:
Gungordu; Kitsiou, Mujakic, Radakovic, Cankaya; Cigerci, Cephas, Bekiroglu, Flips, Bassogog; Sowe
We say: Hatayspor 1-2 Ankaragucu
Although Pulat's side drew their last league game and ended a run of four successive losses, Hatayspor's recent form is still poor.
Ankaragucu's away record is far from perfect, but they will likely be buoyed by the fact that victory at the Mersin Stadium would make them strong favourites for survival with just two games remaining.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
