Caykur Rizespor play host to Samsunspor on Sunday looking for the win that could take them into the top half of the Super Lig standings.
Meanwhile, Samsunspor already occupy a position in that area of the table, sitting in sixth place and just one point adrift of third.
Match preview
© Imago
Having accumulated four points from games against Istanbul Basaksehir and Adana Demirspor to start the season, Rizespor would have been delighted with their start.
However, they have since lost three successive games without scoring, incredibly conceding 11 times in the process to leave Ilhan Palut's side devoid of confidence.
Two of the matches in question have ended in 5-0 defeats, albeit against the likes of Fenerbahce and Galatasaray either side of the international break.
To make matters worse, Rizespor conceded all but one of those 10 goals by the 66th minute, with the fixtures being over as a contest before the start of the final quarter.
Although Palut will welcome a chance to return to familiar territory, the Black Sea Sparrowhawk are yet to win at Rize City Stadium this season.
In sharp contrast, Samsunspor head into this fixture with the joint second-best defensive record in the division having conceded just three times.
The two defeats that they have suffered have come by 1-0 and 2-0 scorelines, with Besiktas and Konyaspor the teams to prevail as visitors to the Samsun 19 Mayis Stadium.
On the flip side, Thomas Reis has witnessed his team record three victories with clean sheets, two of which have been on their travels versus Gazientep FK and Hatayspor.
Samsunspor then returned from the international break to post a 2-0 triumph over Basaksehir, inflicting the first loss of the season on the fourth-placed team.
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Team News
Palut is expected to handed an opportunity to Amir Hadziahmetovic, who has made five substitute outings without featuring from the start.
If Palut changes Rizespor's formation to a 4-5-1, Husniddin Aliqulov is in line to miss out having been withdrawn in the first half at Galatasaray.
Other changes appear likely given their recent form, but new arrival Rachid Ghezzal may only make the substitutes' bench.
Meanwhile, barring any fitness issues, Samsunspor could line up with the same starting lineup from their win over Basaksehir.
Playmaker Arbnor Muja is most likely to be recalled if a change is made, with the winger having previously started the first four games before dropping down to the substitutes' bench for that contest.
Caykur Rizespor possible starting lineup:
Grbic; Sahin, Mocsi, Yasar, Hojer; Akintola, Papanikolaou, Pala, Hadziahmetovic, Olawoyin; Sowe
Samsunspor possible starting lineup:
Kocuk; Yavru, Satka, Drongelen, Bola; Yuksel, Bennasser; Holse, Ntcham, Kilinc; Mouandilmadji
We say: Caykur Rizespor 1-2 Samsunspor
Although Rizespor can move to within touching distance of Samsunspor with a win, these two sides appear to be on different trajectories. With that in mind, we are backing the visitors to edge this contest, even if it is by a one-goal margin.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
