Relegation-threatened Kasimpasa return to Super Lig action against Antalyaspor on Monday at the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium looking to move out of the bottom four.
The Beyoglu outfit's last game was the 1-0 defeat by Hatayspor, before the latter's withdrawal from the 2022-23 season owing to the ramifications of the February earthquake that devastated Turkey, while the Scorpions secured a creditable 0-0 stalemate with Europe-chasing Besiktas.
Match preview
Kasimpasa probably needed the Super Lig hiatus more than most, evidenced by their form preceding the enforced break.
With just one victory secured in five games before the suspension of the top flight, Selcuk Inan got some respite after the 1-0 defeat at the hands of Hatayspor on February 5.
Despite the unfortunate circumstances, the lack of action must have given the Beyoglu outfit another pre-season of sorts to turn things around.
Winning just twice in 2023 has seen them fall into the relegation zone, with their poor run of results extending far back as October, since the last win in a run that saw them claim four victories in five gameweeks.
Since beating Gaziantep 2-0 at the start of that month, Kasimpasa have claimed maximum points in two of the following 14 league fixtures, with four draws taking the total points in that period to 10.
For context, that is two points fewer than they managed from the opening eight Super Lig rounds, further highlighting the malaise facing the relegation-threatened side.
Their opponents visit the Kasimpasa Stadium on Monday pleased by their recent result against a Besiktas side chasing a spot in Europe, with Ataberk Dadakdeniz's last-gasp penalty save preserving the point for Antalyaspor.
The tie at Vodafone Park means Nuri Sahin's troops have picked up four points from an available six in recent games.
That is a welcome turnaround from the side that could not win throughout December, with one January success and February's triumph against Gaziantep accounting for the Scorpions' only victory in 10 matches.
They enter this round of games in better form than the team they visit, evidenced by picking up seven points from an available 12, a run that has the 12th-placed side still avoiding the dreaded drop zone.
Sahin's team are only three points ahead of the club they come up against, looking to avoid a defeat that could see the side from Antalya lose the advantage currently held over their 16th-placed opponent.
The reverse fixture in Antalya ended 2-0 in favour of Kasimpasa, and a repeat will be detrimental to Inan's team on Monday.
Team News
Gunay Guvenc arrived on loan from Gaziantep, but the goalkeeper is suspended and not going to take the place of Erdem Canpolat, who had replaced Ertugrul Taskiran in the Kasimpasa goal before the hiatus.
Aytac Kara served his one-match suspension after accumulating multiple yellow cards, and the 29-year-old is expected to return to the base of the midfield.
Despite intermittently opting for variations of the back three and a 4-2-3-1, Inan is likely to utilise his preferred 4-3-3 against Monday's opponent.
Antalyaspor are still without centre-back Fedor Kudryashov, who is out with a long-term injury.
Dadakdeniz's heroics between the sticks on his first appearance of the season last time out could see him keep his spot in the lineup at Helton Leite's expense.
Sahin is not expected to risk Dogukan Sinik and Haji Wright, even though they are back in training, while Shoya Nakajima's participation is uncertain owing to a minor setback.
The Antalyaspor boss is expected to continue with his favoured 4-2-3-1.
Kasimpasa possible starting lineup:
Canpolat; Tirpan, Serbest, Donk, Ozcan; Eysseric, Kara, Hajradinovic; Ouanes, Fall, Chouiar
Antalyaspor possible starting lineup:
Dadakdeniz; Balci, Sari, Toprak, Vural; Fernando, Fredy; Ndao, Larsson, Guecha; Gumus
We say: Kasimpasa 2-2 Antalyaspor
Despite Antalyaspor's inability to find the back of the net in exactly half of their away games this season, Kasimpasa's home fixtures tend to produce goals.
Thus, an entertaining score draw could be on the cards at the Kasimpasa Stadium on Monday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
