Gameweek 15 in the Super Lig will conclude with a mid-table clash between Ankaragucu and Caykur Rizepor at Eryaman Stadyumu on Monday night.
The hosts are currently in 12th place in the league standings with 17 points after 14 matches, while the visitors are ninth and four points ahead of their opponents.
Match preview
After a solid mid-table finish last season, Ankaragucu have laid a solid foundation again this term and will look to kick on in the second half of the campaign as they try to break into the top half of the table.
MKE have recorded four wins, five draws and five losses in 14 games this season, though with the bottom half still quite compact; they are only four points above Pendikspor, who are the first side below the dotted line.
Emre Belozoglu's side secured their place in the fifth round of the 2023-24 Turkish Cup by beating lower-league outfit Iskenderun 3-1 in midweek, extending their recent run of positive results to four matches without defeat.
During that time, they earned a 1-0 win over Gaziantep and a 1-1 draw at home to Besiktas, while they also beat Genclerbirligi in the TSYD Cup during the November international break.
Ankaragucu have managed to take nine points from a possible 21 at Eryaman Stadyumu and will fancy their chances of improving that record against this opponent.
Meanwhile, Rizespor have been one of the surprise packages in the Super Lig so far this term and have made the best start of the three newly-promoted sides this season.
The Black Sea Sparrowhawks have won six, drawn three and lost five of their 14 matches so far and are just five points behind Besiktas, who sit in the Europa Conference League qualifier spot.
In addition, with this being a Monday night fixture, the visitors are already aware of the results from around the grounds this weekend and will be able to move into the top six with a victory in this match.
Ilhan Palut's side also booked their place in the fifth round of the Turkish Cup last week with a 4-0 win over Bucaspor 1928 and are carrying a three-match unbeaten league run into this encounter.
However, they will need to snap up a four-match winless streak on the road if they hope to break into the top six by the end of this weekend.
Team News
Belozoglu will be without the services of midfielder Tolga Cigerci, who picked up a thigh injury and is expected to remain sidelined for a few more weeks.
That should see Ali Kaan Guneren, Pedrinho and Efkan Bekiroglu continue in the Ankaragucu engine room with Olimpiu Morutan and Renaldo Cephas operating down the flanks.
Rizespor will have to make do without Ibrahim Olawoyin, who is suspended for this match due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
In terms of injuries, Azubuike Okechukwu is the only long-term absentee, while Emir Han Topcu is expected to return to action early in the New Year.
Ankaragucu possible starting lineup:
Gungordu; Cankaya, Mujakic, Radakovic, Hanousek; Guneren; Cephas, Pedrinho, Bekiroglu, Morutan; Sowe
Caykur Rizespor possible starting lineup:
Akkan; Sahin, Mocsi, Alikulov, Nielsen; Pala, Shelvey; Sauer, Varesanovic, Zeqiri, Minchev
We say: Ankaragucu 1-1 Caykur Rizespor
Both teams will come into this match with high spirits following their cup wins in midweek and will believe they have a genuine chance of claiming all three points here. This looks like a very even matchup on paper, and we feel that there will be nothing to separate these sides by the full-time whistle.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Devesh Jaganath
