Round three of the 2023-24 Turkish Super Lig season sees Kayserispor entertain the challenge of Samsunspor at the Kadir Has Stadium on Sunday evening.
Both teams are still looking for their first victory after two matches, and they will be keen to get themselves up and running with all three points this weekend.
Match preview
Kayserispor had to make do with a point for the second game running following a 1-1 draw against Istanbulspor at Necmi Kadioglu Stadyumu on Friday.
Cagdan Atan's men took the lead in the 77th minute through Mame Thiam but were unable to hold on to their advantage as they conceded a late equaliser from Ibrahim Yilmaz.
While their start to the season has been less than ideal, the Anatolian Stars are now unbeaten in six matches in a row dating back to their final fixture of the 2022-23 campaign.
Awaiting them next is the task of facing off against an opposing outfit with little separating the teams over the previous nine clashes which have yielded three wins apiece and as many stalemates.
Currently on a run of two wins and a draw from their most recent three matches on home turf, Sunday's hosts will back themselves to finally pick up a first win this term at the third time of asking.
Newly-promoted Samsunspor fell to a 2-0 defeat against Fenerbahce when the teams went head-to-head at the Samsun 19 Mayis Stadyumu on Monday.
Huseyin Eroglu's men battled hard to keep the score level at half time, but they were eventually undone by second-half goals from Edin Dzeko and Sebastian Szymanski.
As a result, Kirmizi Simsekler have dropped down to 17th in the Turkish Super Lig table with one point from their two league outings so far.
Having not gone three consecutive games without a victory since the turn of the year, Sunday's visitors will hope that they get back to winning ways this weekend.
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Team News
Mame Thiam has found the back of the net in two of his last three matches for Kayserispor, and the Senegalese will seek to deliver the goods once again.
Carlos Mane could be rewarded with a place in the hosts' starting XI for this one after he came off the bench to help set up Thiam's opener last time out.
Samsunspor summer arrival Nanu will be pushing to make his debut here having been deemed fit enough to be named as a substitute against Fenerbahce.
Gaetan Laura and Marius have both started one league game apiece for the away side, and either of them could get the nod to lead the line this weekend.
Kayserispor possible starting lineup:
Bayazit; Attamah, Kocaman, Kolovetsios, Uzodimma; Ackah, Kemen; Thiam, Karimi, Mane; Sazdagi
Samsunspor possible starting lineup:
Kocuk; Yavru, Ozturk, Van Drongelen; Schindler, Antalyali, Ntcham, Bola; Fofana, Laura, Kilinc
We say: Kayserispor 1-0 Samsunspor
Samsunspor have more than held their own since returning to the top flight, but a lack of experience at this level has cost them at times. We are backing Kayserispor to come out on top here, leaving their visitors still in search of a first win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
