Trabzonspor host Fatih Karagumruk in a mid-table clash in the Turkish Super Lig on Monday evening.
Despite there still being six games to play in the season, both sides already have nothing left to play for.
Match preview
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Trabzonspor will be counting down the days on a season which has seen them put up a dreadful defence of the title they won last season.
Sitting a mammoth 28 points adrift of league leaders Galatasaray, Trabzonspor have never really threatened the upper end of the table at any point this season.
Europe is off the cards for the club next season too, given the similar gap to Besiktas in third, and it was a defeat in European competition which was the catalyst for their season to go off the rails.
Since Basel knocked Trabzonspor out of the Europa Conference League, Ankaragucu also knocked them out of the Turkish Cup, and they have gone on to lose six of their following nine league games.
The resignation of manager Abdullah Avci just a week after their elimination in Switzerland has not helped either.
His incredible home unbeaten run with the club, which spanned 36 games, was ended by bottom-placed Umraniyespor, and ultimately was his last game in charge.
Their sensational record at the Akyazi Stadyumu is illustrated by the fact that they have won 34 of their 48 points here, but the side have also lost against Kayserispor here since then.
Sitting four points below them are Karagumruk, who have enjoyed a relatively successful season in Andrea Pirlo's first campaign at the helm.
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Their attacking mentality has made them scintillating to watch, but they still leave a lot to be desired in defence, having scored 68, but also conceded 58.
They have conceded more than the two sides in the relegation zone but have netted more goals than Besiktas, who are 27 points ahead of them in the standings, which emphasises the difference in quality at either end of the pitch for Karagumruk.
After going on a 13-game run where only Fenerbahce were able to beat them, as well as claiming a 3-3 draw away to Galatasaray, Karagumruk have now lost their last two matches, both of which were at home.
Fortune was not on their side in midweek though, as a late Ibrahim Dresevic own goal condemned Karagumruk to a 3-2 defeat against Adana Demirspor.
Team News
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Eren Elmali will be suspended for Trabzonspor here after picking up a booking at Fenerbahce in the week.
Tasos Bakasetas will return though, after missing the last two matches following his red card against Konyaspor at the end of April.
Knee injuries continue to keep Dorukhan Tokoz and Abdulkadir Parmak on the sidelines, while defender Stefano Denswil is out with a calf issue.
Andrea Bertolacci will be available for selection for Karagumruk in this one after serving a suspension in midweek.
Bertolacci's Italian compatriot Matteo Ricci remains out though with the back issue that has kept him out for over a month.
Efe Tatli is also out, but there could be imminent returns for Emir Tintis and Efecan Mizrakci after lengthy layoffs.
Pirlo will be without central defender Rayyan Baniya though, as he is suspended.
Trabzonspor possible starting lineup:
Cakir; Visca, Marc Bartra, Turkmen, Stryger Larsen; Hamsik, Bakasetas, Siopis; Omur, Bozok, Trezeguet
Fatih Karagumruk possible starting lineup:
Ahmet Sen; Biraschi, Bruno Rodrigues, Dresevic, Mercan; Colley, Shukurov, Ozdoev; Lobjanidze, Diagne, Borini
We say: Trabzonspor 2-3 Fatih Karagumruk
Trabzonspor are faltering with nothing left to play for and have lost the majority of their games under new boss Nenad Bjelica.
Pirlo's Karagumruk side are a joy to watch in attack but are liable to conceding goals, so a high-scoring encounter is a real possibility.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Andrew Delaney
