The action continues in round 26 of the Turkish Super Lig as Antalyaspor host Istanbulspor at the New Antalya Stadium on Saturday morning.
Both teams head into the clash, looking to bounce back from defeats in their last league games.
Match preview
Antalyaspor's recent woes continue as they fell 2-0 to Samsunspor at the Samsun Stadium in their last outing.
The Scorpions began the year with an impressive seven-match unbeaten run across all competitions, but their form has since nosedived, resulting in losses in their last three matches, including a 2-1 defeat to Besiktas in the Turkish Cup.
These losses have dealt a blow to their European aspirations, as they currently sit seventh in the Super Lig standings with 34 points from 25 matches, leaving them six points adrift of the Europa Conference League qualification spot currently held by Besiktas.
Their next opponent is one they have not lost to in their last six competitive meetings, with four wins and two draws in those encounters.
However, they have lost their last two home matches across all competitions and have only managed one victory in their last five league games at home.
Istanbulspor's relegation fears are intensifying as they languish at the bottom of the Super Lig with a mere 11 points, a daunting 16 points from safety with just 13 games remaining.
Osman Zeki Korkmaz's side suffered a 3-1 defeat to Gaziantep last time out, extending their winless run to four matches.
Despite a brief respite in the form of a 1-0 victory against Kayserispor, they followed it up with a 3-1 away defeat to Galatasaray, a 1-1 draw at home to Samsunspor, and most recently, a 2-0 loss to Istanbul Basaksehir.
Their struggles this season are evident at both ends of the pitch, as they have scored the fewest goals in the league (18) and conceded the second-most (47) after 25 matches.
The Bulls have not found much joy on the road this season either, picking up just five points from a possible 36 away from home.
- L
- L
- L
- D
- W
- D
Team News
Israeli striker Sagiv Jehezkel has missed each of Antalyaspor's last seven matches through a club suspension and is also out of contention for Saturday's clash.
Guray Vural is also sidelined with a hand injury that will keep him out until mid-March.
Adam Buksa now has 10 goals in 22 league appearances and we expect the Lens loanee to spearhead Antalyaspor's attack once again.
Istanbulspor will be without Florian Loshaj who received a straight red card against Gaziantep last time out.
Okan Erdogan is also suspended for one-match due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
Emir Gultekin and Mendy Mamadou will form a two-man attack, while Eslem Ozturk should come in for Loshaj in midfield.
Antalyaspor possible starting lineup:
Leite; Yesilyurt, Sari, Ozturk, Vural; Kaluzinski, Safuri; Bytyqi, Saric, Larsson; Buksa
Istanbulspor possible starting lineup:
Arda; Erdogan, Yesil, Deli; Sambissa, Vorobjovas, Santos, Ozturk, Yasar; Gultekin, Mamadou
We say: Antalyaspor 2-1 Istanbulspor
While both teams are coming into this match off poor results, Antalyaspor look like the side likely to take the chance to stop their rot. However, we expect it to be a close battle due to the hosts' poor form.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
