Seeking to pick up a fourth consecutive victory and extend their unbeaten run to nine games, Fenerbahce take a trip to the Eryaman Stadium to face Ankaragucu in round 10 of the Super Lig on Monday.
Omer Erdogan's side, on the other hand, will head into the game seeking to get one over the visiting side, having lost each of the last two meetings between the teams since February 2020.
Match preview
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Newly-promoted Ankaragucu returned to winning ways in the Super Lig as they saw off Istanbulspor 2-1 when the sides squared off at the Necmi Kadioglu Sports Complex last Saturday.
After taking a one-goal lead into half time courtesy of Emre Kilinc's 16th-minute opener, Valon Ethemi netted in the 55th minute to level matters, but Rostov loanee Ali Sowe struck in the 91st minute to hand the visitors all three points.
Prior to that, Erdogan's men secured their first win of the season on September 18 when they edged out Sivasspor 2-1 to end their four-game losing streak, before crashing down to earth in a 2-1 loss to Istanbul Basaksehir two weeks later.
Ankaragucu, who returned to the Turkish top flight courtesy of a first-placed finish in the second tier last season, have now picked up seven points from their opening eight games to sit 15th in the league standings, but could rise as high as 12th place with all three points.
While the Ankara-based outfit will be looking to secure successive competitive victories for the first time since March, their next task pits them against a Fenerbahce side who are unbeaten in four of the last five meetings between the teams, claiming three wins and one draw since 2018.
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Fenerbahce, on the other hand, secured their place in the knockout stages of the Europa League last time out when they claimed a 2-1 victory over AEK Larnaca at the AEK Arena - George Karapatakis.
In a game where Angel Garcia received his marching orders, Joao Pedro and Michy Batshuayi scored on either side of Ivan Trickovski's 52nd-minute equaliser to hand the visitors all three points.
Jorge Jesus's men have won three and drawn one of their four European outings to collect 10 points and sit top of Group B, just above second-placed Rennes on goal difference.
Fenerbahce now turn their attention to the Super Lig, where they are currently on a four-game unbeaten run, claiming three wins and one draw since a 1-0 loss to Konyaspor on August 29.
With 17 points from their opening eight games, the Sari Kanaryalar are currently fourth in the league standings, level on points with Istanbul Basaksehir, Galatasaray and Trabzonspor, but could potentially rise as high as second place with all three points on Monday.
Team News
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Ankaragucu will take to the pitch without the services of 25-year-old defender Marlon, who has missed the last two games after coming off injured against Sivasspor on September 18.
Summer signing Kilinc got off the mark for the season with his strike against Istanbulspor last weekend and the Turkish forward should retain his role in the final third, teaming up with Giorgi Beridze and Rostov loanee Sowe.
Fenerbahce will take to the pitch without the Brazilian duo of Willian Arao and Luan Peres, who are currently recuperating from thigh and knee injuries respectively.
Turkish midfielder Mert Hakan Yandas has missed the last three games through a knee injury, while fellow countryman Nazim Sangare is yet to make an appearance this season after coming off injured in May.
Former Watford striker Joshua King, who has scored two goals in three league outings this term, is set to sit out his sixth consecutive game after suffering a muscle injury against Rennes in September.
With his winner against AEK Larnaca, Batshuayi now has six goal involvements in his opening nine games for Fenerbahce and we expect the former Chelsea man to spearhead the visitors' attack once again.
Ankaragucu possible starting lineup:
Akkan; Ceylan, Radakovic, Mujakic, Gureler; Cigerci; Kilinc, Pepe, Pedrinho, Beridze; Sowe
Fenerbahce possible starting lineup:
Bayindir; Henrique, Szalai, Aziz; Kadioglu, Crespo, Lincoln, Alioski; Geraldino, Valencia, Batshuayi
We say: Ankaragucu 0-3 Fenerbahce
Fenerbahce will be licking their lips as they go up against an Ankaragucu side who have struggled for results on home turf this season. While the hosts will be looking to build on their win over Istanbulspor, Jesus's side boasts a superior and more experienced squad capable of getting the job done. We predict that Fenerbahce will come away with all three points and maintain their fine run of results.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
