Pendikspor will be looking to put a poor run of form behind them as they welcome mid-table dwellers Ankaragucu to Siltas Yapi Pendik Stadium on Monday evening in the Turkish Super Lig.
The hosts are currently on a losing streak which threatens to condemn them to relegation, while Ankaragucu have failed to secure maximum points in recent matches.
Match preview
Pendikspor have now suffered four-straight losses in the league for the first time since December 2020 after falling to a 5-1 defeat at the home of fellow promoted side Rizespor on Thursday night, leaving Monday's hosts in even greater danger of finishing inside the relegation zone.
Playing with 10 men for the last third of the contest was not the problem for Pendikspor as they already found themselves five goals behind within 58 minutes, with Adolfo Gaich and Dal Varesanovic both grabbing braces, whilst Benhur Keser netted his fourth of the league term in the first half.
Ivo Vieira's men currently sit 19th in the Super Lig standings after collecting a measly 16 points from their opening 13 matches, meaning they are four points away from 16th-placed Alanyaspor, but Pendikspor do possess a five-point buffer over bottom club Istanbulspor.
Moving on a temporary deal from a potential relegation rival, Alanyaspor loanee Erencan Yardimci is leading Pendikspor's scoring charts as the season approaches the New Year, making the net ripple on five occasions in just 13 top-flight matches, already bettering the tally of three the attacker managed last campaign.
Solid home form is often what struggling sides build their survival hopes on, but Vieira's charges have been very inefficient at Siltas Yapi Pendik Stadium so far this season, earning just five points in their of their own supporters, fewer than any other team in the division.
After a dramatic 1-1 draw against Rizespor on December 11 which ended with Ankaragucu's club president assaulting a match official, Monday's visitors made sure they stayed out of the headlines last time out as they played out a harmless goalless draw with Hatayspor on Thursday.
A share of the spoils against Volkan Demirel's men extended Ankaragucu's unbeaten run to five matches across all competitions since the end of November, including a 3-1 home success over minnows Iskenderun FK in the fourth round of the Turkish Cup on December 7.
Like Pendikspor, Ankaragucu's leading marksman also moved from Alanyaspor during the summer window, with German Efkan Bekiroglu currently leading the goalscoring charts for the Eagles after netting four strikes.
Emre Belozoglu's side are currently 12th in the Super Lig table and will be targeting a top-half finish in the division for the first time since returning to this level in 2018, with 10th-placed Sivasspor two points better off.
Team News
Pendikspor will be without the services of centre-back Welinton on Monday evening, with the Brazilian suspended for one match after collecting two yellow cards in the defeat to Rizespor.
Summer arrival Emeka Eze played two matches for Monday's hosts before suffering an ankle injury, with the Nigerian last featuring in a competitive game during August.
Providing four goal contributions from a midfield role, Tolga Cigerci has proved to be a useful weapon for Ankaragucu this term, but the 31-year-old is currently sidelined due to a thigh strain.
Bosnian Riad Bajic missed a penalty in the stalemate with Hatayspor on Thursday, and the attacker could be replaced by former Manchester United man Federico Macheda in the starting XI.
Pendikspor possible starting lineup:
Ogur; Ozgenc, Sulungoz, Akca, Sequeira; Vukovic, Lusamba, Thuram, Midtsjo, Akbunar; Koka
Ankaragucu possible starting lineup:
Gungordu; Cankaya, Radakovic, Mujakic, Hanousek; Guneren, Pedrinho; Mourtan, Cephas, Bekiroglu; Macheda
We say: Pendikspor 0-1 Ankaragucu
Pendikspor have struggled severely at home this term and are currently on their worst run of form in three years, so their success on Monday seems unlikely.
Ankaragucu have steadied the ship after a tumultuous fortnight, and the Eagles should be good enough for all three points in this one.
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Top tip
Carter White
