The Turkish Super Lig resumes on Tuesday, with Istanbul Basaksehir hosting Sivasspor in a gameweek 17 clash at the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium.
Both sides battle a week after the league's suspension after Ankaragucu's now-banned president, Faruk Koca, punched referee Halil Umut Meler after their home match against Caykur Rizespor.
Match preview
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Basaksehir return to Super Lig action on Tuesday seeking consecutive victories in the competition for the first time this season.
The home side's preceding three victories in 2023-24 have not been followed by another triumph, with the Istanbul outfit last claiming successive wins at the backend of the previous season.
It remains to be seen if the hiatus benefits Cagdas Atan's troops, who play another fixture in front of their fans on Tuesday, the venue of their last win — a 1-0 triumph over Hatayspor.
The Grey Owls have claimed maximum points in three of their seven home matches, with those victories coming in the recent four games on their turf, accruing 10 points from a possible 12.
That gives Atan's men belief heading into Tuesday's clash as the competition resumes, and they hope to end a six-month wait for back-to-back league triumphs.
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As for the away side, their broader away successes hit a roadblock for two road trips to Fatih Karagumruk (3-0) and Fenerbahce (4-1); still, Sivasspor returned to winning on their travels when they defeated relegation-threatened Konyaspor on December 11.
The win in Konya was the first triumph Servet Cetin's men had secured since October 28 — a 2-1 victory over Alanyaspor — and they seek their fifth league success on Tuesday.
Like their hosts, Sivasspor have not claimed consecutive league wins all season, with draws following triumphs over Gaziantep and Alanyaspor, while they were beaten by Kasimpasa after defeating Pendikspor.
The Braves last won consecutive matches in the competition in April, a statistic that does not bode well heading into Tuesday's meeting in Istanbul.
Be that as it may, Sivasspor have the advantage of not losing against Basaksehir in the previous two meetings, giving the away side some optimism before the clash in midweek.
Team News
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Jerome Opoku was sent off in Basaksehir's win over Hatayspor, and the centre-back is absent for this week's meeting with Sivasspor.
Atan may be without the injured Edgar Ie, Efe Arda Koyuncu, Muhammed Sengezer and Patryk Szysz, with the latter still missing because of a ligament layoff.
The away side are missing Rey Manaj because of a muscle injury, although the Sivasspor attacker is expected to return imminently.
Clinton N'Jie was the Sivas-based club's match-winner last time out, and the forward should lead the line for the visitors in Istanbul.
Istanbul Basaksehir possible starting lineup:
Babacan; Dubois, Duarte, Ba, Lima; Ozcan, Abeid; Turic, Pelkas, Figueiredo; Piatek
Sivasspor possible starting lineup:
Sasal; Okumus, Osmanpasa, Camara, Ciftci; Konak; Kapacak, Charisis, Saiz, Rodrigues; N'Jie
We say: Istanbul Basaksehir 2-1 Sivasspor
With 10 goals scored in their last four at home, Basaksehir are averaging 2.5 goals in Istanbul, and their scoring prowess on home turf should see them claim consecutive league wins for the first time since June, ending their two-game winless run against Sivasspor.
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