The RHG Enerturk Enerji Stadyumu will host a crucial relegation clash on Friday when Kayserispor take on Hatayspor in the Turkish Super Lig.
The Anadolu Yildizi will be looking to bounce back from their loss last time out, while the Guneyin Yildizi could make it three consecutive wins this week.
Match preview
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Sergej Jakirovic‘s Kayserispor went unbeaten throughout February, winning two and drawing two of their four top-flight matches, but they have since stumbled in the fight for survival.
In March, the Anadolu Yildizi have sandwiched their single win against Istanbul Basaksehir between two defeats, including a 1-0 loss on the road to Gaziantep FK most recently.
Dropping six points from a possible nine this month has left Jakirovic’s side 17th in the table with 27 points to their name, though they are only three points behind 15th-placed Bodrum FK, the first team safe from the drop.
The hosts will be confident of making up the gap to safety this week given the strength of their home record in 2025, and having lost just once this year and winning the last three on the bounce, fans and players alike will be expecting another triumph on Friday.
With the knowledge that victory could lift them out of the relegation zone, Kayserispor will not need much motivation to deliver a strong performance, but with only one clean sheet in their six most recent games, they will need to outscore their opponents if they are to seize the points.
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Meanwhile, Murat Sahin‘s Hatayspor have been in drastically improved form in recent weeks after going more than three months without a win between December and February, and will pose a threat to their hosts despite their lacking points total.
Last time out, the Guneyin Yildizi came from behind to beat Sivasspor 3-2 thanks to goals from Bilal Boutobba, Burak Yilmaz and Guy Kilama, though they did have centre-back Francisco Calvo sent off with 12 minutes to play.
That victory has taken Sahin’s men to 19 points for the season, but they remain stranded in 18th place – eight points behind their opponents – despite winning three of their last four matches.
Regardless, the boss will be pleased with his team’s performances in recent games and especially with the character they showed to come back and hold on with 10 men on March 16, but it is notable that the visitors have only won one away fixture since October, and have lost six of their last seven on the road across all competitions.
Should Hatayspor manage to take maximum points once again on Friday, then they could find themselves five points behind both Sivasspor and Kayserispor by the end of the matchweek, but they would still be at least eight points from safety with a dwindling number of games to play.
Team News
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Kayserispor will be desperate for three points on Friday, and will be hoping for centre-back pairing Majid Hosseini and Joseph Attamah to keep the opposition at bay.
Further forward, striker Duckens Nzon will be supported by Mehdi Bourabia from an attacking midfield position, while captain Miguel Cardoso and Carlos Mane provide width.
As for Hatayspor, they will be missing centre-back Francisco Calvo after his red card last time out, so expect Cengiz Demir to start alongside Guy Kilama.
Elsewhere, both left-back Cemali Sertel and attacking midfielder Gorkem Saglam picked up injuries against Sivasspor, but with the international break between games giving them time to recover, they could be available on Friday.
Kayserispor possible starting lineup:
Bayazit; Civelek, Hosseini, Attamah, Carole; Karimi, Yilmaz; Mane, Bourabia, Cardoso; Nazon
Hatayspor possible starting lineup:
Bekaj; Alici, Kilama, Demir, Sertel; Massanga, Parmak; Boutobba, Saglam, Fernandes; Aboubakar
We say: Kayserispor 1-1 Hatayspor
Kayserispor have stumbled this month in their fight for survival, and they will be desperate to get back on track against one of the league’s favourites for relegation.
However, Hatayspor have dramatically improved in recent weeks, and they will make Friday’s game a close-fought contest despite their low points total.
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