Two sides desperate to pull further away from the Turkish Super Lig relegation zone will go head-to-head as Caykur Rizespor welcome Sivasspor to the Caykur Didi Stadium on Saturday.
The hosts sit 13th in the standings, just three points above the drop zone, while the visitors occupy 15th place, only escaping the bottom four on goal difference over 16th-placed Bodrumspor.
Match preview
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Rizespor enjoyed a strong run between November and early December, which provided some breathing space in the table, but they ended 2024 poorly with a three-match winless streak.
While 2025 started on a promising note with a draw and a win, their form quickly dipped again, with just four wins in 11 league games this year, while they have lost five of their last seven matches.
This has left them precariously placed, just three points clear of the bottom four, though they do have a game in hand over most of the teams who are around them.
Their 2-0 home defeat to Bodrumspor was arguably their worst performance of the campaign, as Rizespor failed to create any clear-cut chances and played most of the game with 10 men after Samet Akaydin‘s 40th-minute dismissal for a second bookable offence.
The Black Sea Sparrowhawks had previously built their survival hopes on an impressive six-match unbeaten home run (4W, 2D) between October and January, but their form at the Caykur Didi Stadium has declined, with two defeats in their last three home matches.
That record will be concerning as they face a Sivasspor side also battling for safety, one they have failed to beat in their last six meetings, with three draws and three defeats in that time.
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The visitors will take confidence from their recent positive record at this ground, having avoided defeat in their last three visits, picking up one win and two draws.
Sivasspor will also be buoyed by their 5-1 thrashing of bottom club Adana Demirspor, a crucial win that lifted them out of the relegation zone, doing wonders to their goal difference.
With just six points separating 10th and 17th place, consistency will be key in the survival race, and with two wins in their last three matches, the Braves look like they are finding form at the right time.
However, their away struggles remain their biggest issue, as Riza Calimbay‘s men have lost their last eight league matches on the road and have managed just two wins from 13 away fixtures this season, collecting the second-fewest away points in the division.
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Team News
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With Akaydin suspended for his red card last time out, and Ibrahim Olawoyin also suspended for accumulated yellow cards, Husniddin Aliqulov and Muhamed Buljubasic are likely going to come into the XI.
Giannis Papanikolaou has suffered a shoulder injury that will keep him out of contention for the remainder of the season, while Rachid Ghezzal is also injured.
Ali Sowe‘s run of scoring in seven successive league games ended last time out, but he will hope to pick things up again when he leads the line on Saturday.
Sivasspor will remain without the services of Fode Koita, who is sidelined with injury, leaving an opportunity for Turac Boke to feature from the start.
Mehmet Albyarak lacks match fitness and will not feature here, while Noah Sonko Sundberg is match-fit and should return to the starting XI.
Caykur Rizespor possible starting lineup:
Cetin; Sahin, Aliqulov, Mocsi, Hojer; Ozcan, Varesanovic, Buljubasic; Akintola, Sowe, Zeqiri
Sivasspor possible starting lineup:
Vural; Ciftci, Sundberg, Radakovic, Paluli; Moutoussamy, Cigerci, Bekiroglu; Rodrigues, Manaj, Boke
We say: Caykur Rizespor 1-1 Sivasspor
Both teams are fighting for their survival, which suggests a highly competitive and physical encounter, with both sides prioritising defensive solidity to prevent the other from finding the net.
This could lead to a scrappy affair with few clear-cut chances, and given Sivasspor’s ability to grind out results at this ground over the years, regardless of their form, we anticipate that the spoils will be shared.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
