Konyaspor will resume their quest for Super Lig survival when they host Alanyaspor at Torku Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts are five points above the first side in the drop zone with 36 points from 32 matches as they sit in 15th place.
Match preview
Konyaspor ended their three-game winless run with a 2-0 victory over Kasimpasa at the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium last Saturday, courtesy of a first-half goal from Alassane Ndao and a Guilherme penalty in second-half stoppage time.
The win saw the Anatolian Eagles climb to 15th place with six games remaining this season, while increasing the gap between them and the sides in the relegation zone.
Fahrudin Omerovic, who joined Konya in January as their third manager of the season, will hope his side avoids another winless run as the season reaches its twilight and the battle to stay in the top flight intensifies.
Next up is Alanyaspor, a team they have dominated on home soil. In 17 meetings between both sides at Torku Arena, Konyaspor have won 11, losing three and drawing three.
However, home advantage has not been particularly favourable to the Anatolian Eagles this season, as they are the fourth-worst team when playing at home.
Alanyaspor saw their fine run come to an end after a 4-0 defeat to league leaders Galatasaray on Monday. The Alanya-based outfit's manager, Fatih Tekke, was sent off in the 19th minute, but they held on for a goalless first half.
However, their resolve was broken in the second half as Gala scored four goals within 17 minutes, but Alanya's Leroy Fer was also sent off in the 64th minute for a second yellow card, leaving them to finish the game with ten men.
Despite this defeat, they maintained 10th position, and are currently level on 42 points with ninth-placed Antalyaspor as the season reaches its climax.
Alanyaspor were unbeaten in their last seven matches prior to the defeat against Gala, winning the last four. The good run turned their season around as they are on course for a top-half finish, and they will look to bounce back quickly from the defeat.
The Alanya outfit are enjoying a strong run on the road right now and will look to extend that on Saturday. They are unbeaten in their last four away matches, drawing two and winning the last two.
However, the last time they won at Konyaspor was in 2020, losing once and drawing two of their three trips there since then.
Team News
Konyaspor have everyone available, leaving Omerovic with a full squad to choose from ahead of Saturday's clash.
Bouly Sambou led the line last time out while Sokol Cikalleshi was rested. Roles could be reversed this time with the 11-goal striker returning to the XI.
Fer will be unavailable for selection after his dismissal last time out, which could see Joao Novais play from the start.
With four goals in his last five appearances, Oguz Aydin is a man to look out for against Konyaspor.
Meanwhile, Ahmed Hassan is the man expected to lead the line once again for the Alanya outfit.
Konyaspor possible starting lineup:
Slowik; Yazgli, Damjanovic, Hadebe, Guilherme; N'Zonzi, Dikmen; Ndao, Ulgun, Ethemi; Cikalleshi
Alanyaspor possible starting lineup:
Taskiran; Hadergjonaj, Bayir, Aliti, Balkovec; Coelho, Novais; Aydin, Karaca, Ozdemir; Hassan
We say: Konyaspor 1-1 Alanyaspor
Konyaspor historically dominate Alanyaspor at home, but have struggled to make home advantage count this season. Alanyaspor are unbeaten away in four, but have not won at Konyaspor since 2020. We expect a close match and have predicted a draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
