Round 11 of the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig will conclude when Samsunspor hosts Antalyaspor at Samsun 19 Mayis Stadyumu on Monday evening.
The clash is between two teams with contrasting fortunes in this campaign, but they are both heading into this game on the back of wins in their most recent league matches.
Match preview
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Samsunspor continued their impressive form with a 4-1 thrashing of Kasimpasa at Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadyumu last Sunday.
It was a comeback victory for the Red Lightning, who were behind at the break, but a second-half brace from Carlo Holse, and goals from Soner Aydogdu and Flavien Tait ensured that Thomas Reis's team extended their unbeaten run in the Super Lig to six matches.
However, it was not as straightforward for Samsunspor in their Turkish Cup tie on Thursday, as they needed a penalty shootout to defeat fourth-tier side Bayburt following a goalless draw after 120 minutes.
After barely surviving relegation last season, the Samsun-based team are now six points behind league leaders Galatasaray and in second spot at the moment with 22 points after 10 matches, a level they will hope to maintain this level across the season for the possibility of a first European appearance since 1998.
The next hurdle for Reis's men is Antalyaspor, a team they defeated 2-0 on home soil in the previous campaign, a result that the Red Lightning will be satisfied with on Monday.
However, the hosts have shown that they can be vulnerable at home, with both of their league defeats coming on home soil earlier in the campaign, though they are now unbeaten in their last three games at Samsun 19 Mayis Stadyumu (two wins and a draw).
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Antalyaspor successfully ended a four-match winless streak after picking up a 2-1 win against provincial rivals Alanyaspor at Bahcesehir Okul Stadyumu last Sunday.
The Scorpions were behind at the break, but goals from Moussa Djenepo and Adolfo Gaich in the second half helped them turn the game around for a third league win of the season.
Alex de Souza's men climbed two spots after the win, currently in 13th place with 11 points, now holding a measly two-point advantage over Alanyaspor who are the first side in the relegation zone.
Antalyaspor head into Monday's clash hoping to record their first away win in the top flight against Samsunspor since October 1999, having lost all four visits there in the Super Lig since then.
Team News
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Samsunspor also have the luxury of a fully fit squad heading into this clash, with no suspensions to worry about.
Olivier Ntcham and Holse are joint-top scorers in the league for the team, and both players will be hoping to make an impact once again, when they play behind striker Marius Mouandilmadji.
Antalyaspor might be without Emrecan Uzunhan and Bunyamin Balci, who are hoping to recover in time from muscle and finger injuries respectively.
They are joined on the treatment table by Bahadir Ozturk, who has an ankle issue that will see him sidelined until the middle of this month.
Samsunspor possible starting lineup:
Kocuk; Yavru, Cetin, Drongelen, Bola; Aydogdu, Ntcham; Schindler, Holse, Kilinc; Mouandilmadji
Antalyaspor possible starting lineup:
Piric; Yesilyurt, Sari, Kelven, Vural; Petrusenko, Rakip; Townsend, Larsson, van de Streek; Samudio
We say: Samsunspor 3-1 Antalyaspor
Samsunspor are almost unstoppable at the moment, and they have an ongoing winning streak at home against Antalyaspor, which we think will continue as the visitors have been poor this season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
