Umraniyespor will endeavour to pick up their first win of the 2022-23 Turkish Super Lig season at the seventh attempt when they welcome Kasimpasa to their headquarters on Saturday afternoon.
Recep Ucar's side managed to hold Gaziantep FK to a 1-1 draw last weekend, while the visitors were defeated 3-2 by Galatasaray.
Match preview
Umraniyespor's wait for a first-ever win in the top-flight of Turkish football continues, and a swift relegation back to the TFF First League is looming for Ucar and co if results do not pick up in the coming months.
This weekend's hosts have not been blown away in any of their games so far this season, with all four of their defeats coming by a 1-0 scoreline - even against the likes of Galatasaray and champions Trabzonspor - and they left it late to rescue a draw against Gaziantep.
A fifth-straight 1-0 loss was on the menu following Alexandru Maxim's opener for Gaziantep, but the Istanbul-based club hit back in the 90th minute through substitute Antonio Mrsic, who scored his second goal of the season from the penalty spot to ensure a share of the spoils.
However, that point has done little to help Umraniyespor's standing in the table, as Ucar's side find themselves down in the relegation zone in 17th place, but their resilient showings against some of Turkey's big boys proves that they are still not to be underestimated.
Hopes of a third-successive win for Kasimpasa were quickly dashed by Galatasaray last weekend, as this week's visitors failed to build on back-to-back success over Hatayaspor and Antalyaspor in a 3-2 loss to one of the nation's footballing giants.
Stephane Bahoken sent Kasimpasa ahead after just 16 minutes, but his counterpart Bafetimbi Gomis levelled for Galatasaray only a few minutes later before a second-half brace from the highly-rated Kerem Akturkoglu completed the job for Okan Buruk's men.
Senol Can's team did restore some pride through Sadik Ciftpinar's 90th-minute header, but it was too late for Kasimpasa to spark a late comeback, and the Apaches are languishing in 13th place in the rankings as a result.
Kasimpasa have endured a measured decline in the Super Lig since returning to the big time in 2012, from hovering around the top five to struggling to make the top half, and they travel to Umraniyespor having not drawn in the top flight since February - winning 10 and losing eight since that 4-4 thriller with Konyaspor.
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Team News
Umraniyespor's squad is in relatively good shape ahead of Saturday's game, and only veteran goalkeeper Serkan Kirintili should be absent from the contest due to a muscle injury; Orkun Ozdemir will continue to deputise.
Mrsic's late contribution off the bench against Gaziantep has given Ucar food for thought in the middle of the park, with Congo international Durel Avounou potentially fearing for the safety of his spot.
As for Kasimpasa, Can has no fresh fitness concerns to report from the loss to Galatasaray, but Raoul Petretta's hamstring issue is keeping him sidelined and will likely do so until the end of the month.
Centre-back Tarkan Serbest is still recovering from a serious knee injury, and the club have also welcomed striker Fode Koita back to the club on loan from champions Trabzonspor.
The former Blackburn Rovers forward previously scored 31 goals in 112 games for the club between 2016 and 2021, but fitness issues means that Bahoken should continue to lead the line for now.
Umraniyespor possible starting lineup:
Ozdemir; Goksu, Sackey, Glumac, Lenjani; Yilmaz; Geraldo, Mrsic, Gurbulak, Gheorghe; Nayir
Kasimpasa possible starting lineup:
Taskiran; Hadergjonaj, Graovac, Ciftpinar, Ben Ouanes; Tirpan; Fall, Hajradinovic, Eysseric, Celina; Bahoken
We say: Umraniyespor 1-2 Kasimpasa
Umraniyespor have not lost by more than a one-goal margin all season, and we can see that trend continuing here after Kasimpasa were quickly brought crashing back down to earth against Galatasaray.
Facing the league's leakiest defence is also cause for optimism for the hosts, but Kasimpasa will still expect to rediscover their attacking touch and return to winning ways this weekend, forcing Umraniyespor to wait that little bit longer for their first top-flight victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Ben Knapton
