Besiktas square off against Caykur Rizespor on Friday evening looking for the win that would move the club into fourth place in the Super Lig table.
Meanwhile, Rizespor can move to within three points of their sixth-placed opponents if they can prevail at the Rize City Stadium.
Match preview
© Imago
With Serdar Topraktepe remaining as the interim head coach, Besiktas are going through somewhat of an uncertain period as they bid to remain in contention for a top-three spot.
There are currently four points separating them to third-placed Samsunspor, not helped by just one win being recorded in eight league matches.
Since that surprise 1-0 triumph over Fenerbahce, Besiktas have gone down 2-1 to bottom side Adana Demirspor and posted a 1-1 draw with Alanyaspor.
Rafa Silva found the equaliser in that contest for his fourth goal of the campaign, but Besiktas remain with just 25 goals from their 16 top-flight fixtures.
Furthermore, only two victories have been posted in their eight away encounters during 2024-25, improvement needed if they are to achieve their targets for the rest of the season.
© Imago
Meanwhile, Rizespor have recently dropped out of the top half of the standings on the back of failing to prevail in any of their three most recent fixtures.
Away defeats versus Gaziantep FK and Goztepe were recorded either side of a 1-1 draw at home to 10th-placed Konyaspor.
Prior to that, however, Ilhan Palut had overseen a terrific run of five victories from six matches, and the end result is sitting five points above the relegation zone.
Rizespor are also on a four-match unbeaten run at their home ground, the highlight being a 3-1 success over Trabzonspor.
Team News
![Besiktas' Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain pictured in April 2024 [IMAGO]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/26/alex-oxlade-chamberlain.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Besiktas' Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain pictured in April 2024 [IMAGO]")
© Imago
Palut will inevitably make a number of changes to his Rizespor XI on the back of the 3-0 defeat at Rizespor.
Dal Varesanovic is likely to be recalled in a creative midfielder role, while Benhur Keser could be handed his first league start of the campaign.
Having suffered a head injury during the closing stages of the previous fixture, goalkeeper Ivo Grbic will be replaced by Tarik Cetin.
Meanwhile, Cher Ndour is pushing for an opportunity in the Besiktas midfield after being introduced as a half-time substitute versus Alanyaspor.
Arthur Masuaku may potentially be recalled at left-back, but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain should remain among the replacements.
Caykur Rizespor possible starting lineup:
Cetin; Sahin, Mocsi, Aliqulov, Pala; Papanikolaou, Olawoyin; Keser, Varesanovic, Akintola; Sowe
Besiktas possible starting lineup:
Gunok; Svensson, Uduokhai, Topcu, Masuaku; Musrati, Ndour; Muci, Fernandes, Rafa; Kilicsoy
We say: Caykur Rizespor 1-3 Besiktas
With both teams in indifferent form heading into this fixture, there is a vulnerability surrounding each. However, we are going to back the superior quality of the visitors to come through for what would be an important win in the race for the European spots.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
