Two sides at opposite ends of the Turkish Super Lig table will square off this weekend when Pendikspor welcome high-flyers Fenerbahce to Siltas Yapi Pendik Stadyumu on Sunday evening.
The hosts are currently 18th and set firmly in the relegation zone with seven points after nine league matches, while the visitors are at the top of the standings and two points clear of second-placed Galatasaray.
Match preview
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After securing promotion to the Super Lig for the first time in their history, Pendikspor have yet to find their feet in the top flight, and based on their recent record, they look set to battle for survival this season.
After failing to win any of their first eight matches this season, Pendikspor decided to part ways with Osman Ozkoylu during the recent international break, with Ivo Veira being chosen as his successor.
The new boss got his reign in charge off to the perfect start last week, as he oversaw his side's first win of the current campaign, beating Konyaspor 2-1 on the road with Erencan Yardimci and Abdoulay Diaby both finding the net in the second half after going a goal down.
The lift that result would have given the hosts would have been immense. However, they face a much tougher assignment here against a Fenerbahce side that have been taking down all comers this season with relative ease and look well on their way to challenging for the title against this season.
In contrast to the hosts struggles, Fenerbahce's form this season has been nothing short of incredible, and they come into this match carrying a perfect record of nine wins in nine league games.
However, it is not just their domestic league that the Yellow Canaries have been dominating as they also sit atop their group in the Conference League after beating Bulgarian champions Ludogorets 3-1 in midweek.
Michy Batshuayi opened the scoring for his side in the first half of that match, while Slovenian international Miha Zajc bagged a brace in the second period either side of a Rodrigo Becao own-goal.
With that result, Fenerbahce are now riding a 15-match winning streak in all competitions this season and last tasted defeat back in June when they were beaten by the defending champions Gala on the road.
Ismail Kartal's side have been rampant this season, scoring 24 goals in just nine league games, along with eight in Europe, and they will fancy their chances of smashing in a few more here against the side with the worst defensive record in the Super Lig this term.
Team News
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Veira has a few notable absentees in this match, particularly in attack, with Emeka Eze and Thuram both flagged with injuries and unlikely to feature for at least another few weeks.
Fredrik Midtsjo picked up a knock during the international break and will not play a part in this match, while Aias Aosman is still ineligible for selection and has not played a single minute this season.
With the way Fenerbahce have been going this season, it is hard to believe that they have as many as 10 players missing from action at the moment, with Samet Akaydin, Mert Muldur and Bartug Elmaz ineligible for selection.
Lincoln (knock), Luan Peres (knee), Joshua King (muscle), Mert Hakan Yandas (foot), Serdar Aziz (arthroscopy), Alexander Djiku (fracture) and Emre Mor (knock) make up the casualty list.
Pendikspor possible starting lineup:
Canpolat; Ozgenc, Sulungoz, Welinton, Sequeira; Vukovic, Akdag, Cekici, Romero, Akbunar; Hassan
Fenerbahce possible starting lineup:
Livakovic; Kadioglu, Becao, Djiku, Osayi-Samuel; Yuksek, Fred, Kahveci, Szymanski, Tadic; Dzeko
We say: Pendikspor 0-2 Fenerbahce
While the visitors finally got their first win in the top flight last week, they face a massive step up in class here. Fenerbahce have been incredible this season and are yet to concede a goal on the road in league matches. We are going with the visitors to claim another scalp in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Devesh Jaganath
