Relegation-threatened Sivasspor will be searching for their first victory in six Turkish Super Lig matches when they host European hopefuls Goztepe SK at the Sivas 4 Eylul Stadium in Sunday’s gameweek 27 encounter.
Sivasspor’s eight-year stay in the Turkish top flight is under threat, with 24 points leaving them 16th in the standings, while the visitors will be looking for their first win since January to revive their European bid.
Match preview
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Sivasspor finished a respectable seventh last season, but the current campaign has been much tougher, with the threat of relegation hanging over their heads.
In their last outing, Sivasspor suffered a 1-0 loss to Istanbul Basaksehir to extend their winless streak to five league matches, which leaves them 16th in the standings on 24 points, level with Bodrum FK, who are just outside of the drop zone on goal difference.
A record of one win in their last 14 league matches underscores how underwhelming Rıza Calımbay‘s team have been in the current season.
With demotion a possibility for the home side this term, the Sivas-based side must find quickfire solutions to their leaky defence and a misfiring attack, to set their escape bid in motion.
The Braves have shipped in 41 goals and kept only four clean sheets so far, while also struggling at the other end of the pitch with a dismal 28 goals tally, failing to score in 12 of their 25 Super Lig fixtures, including three of their last five matches.
The visit of Goztepe, who are without a win in their last six league fixtures on the road bodes well for the hosts, who recorded four of their six triumphs in front of their fans.
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Goztepe have struggled in recent times – winless across five league matches – since a 1-0 victory over Antalyaspor in January, and a couple of points earned away from home since November 24, causing their charge for European football to suffer a setback.
The Goz Goz played out a 2-2 draw against Samsunspor in their last league outing to take their tally to 36, leaving the visitors eight points and two places behind Besiktas, who occupy the final UEFA Conference League spot.
Although that was not the result Stanimir Stoilov‘s side wanted, the positive for the Izmir-based side is that they found their scoring edge again, after failing to score in three consecutive league exertions.
The visitors will now look to bolster their chances of playing in Europe next season and they can bank on their attacking prowess, which has seen them plunder 42 goals – an average of 1.75 per game.
Goztepe will enter Sunday’s match with hopes of completing a league double over the home side having claimed a 3-2 win in October’s reverse fixture, with the added incentive of extending their three-game unbeaten streak against the hosts.
Team News
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Sivasspor are expected to be without Tolga Cigerci, Samba Camara, Alex Pritchard and Emrah Bassan, while there are doubts over the availability of Azizbek Turgunboev.
Having suffered a cruciate ligament injury, Mehmet Albayrak will not be available till the end of March.
Meanwhile, a boost for the home side is that Uros Radakovic has served his suspension, and he is likely to be named in the starting XI.
For the visitors Isaac Solet, who suffered a cruciate ligament injury earlier in the season, will not be available for the rest of the season.
Emersonn is also stricken with injury, so, Romulo should fill the void in the absence of the Brazilian forward.
On a positive note, for Stoilov’s team, Taha Altikardes has returned to full fitness, and he should be involved from the start.
Sivasspor possible starting lineup:
Vural; Ciftci, Sundberg, Radakovic, Paluli; Moutoussamy, Charisis; Rodrigues, Bekiroglu, Koita; Manaj
Goztepe SK possible starting lineup:
Lis; Gunter, Bokele, Altikardes; Nielsen, Miroshi, Dennis, Silva; Tijanic; Juan, Romulo
We say: Sivasspor 1-1 Goztepe SK
Sivasspor have struggled for much of the current season owing to their lack of solidity at the back, and a dismal scoring record.
However, they have had more success at home than on their travels and up against a team with a solitary win on their travels the hosts could make the most of playing in front of their supporters to eke out a 1-1 draw.
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