Already relegated Adana Demirspor welcome Goztepe SK to the New Adana Stadium on Sunday in the Turkish Super Lig, with the visitors aiming to strengthen their league position in the closing weeks of the season.
Goz sit eighth in the table with 43 points, holding a comfortable nine-point cushion above the drop zone, while also behind the European qualification spot by the same margin.
Match preview
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Adana Demirspor have now lost six straight matches and gone 15 league games without victory after last weekend’s 3-1 defeat to Konyaspor, extending what has become their longest-ever winless streak in the top flight.
Despite their confirmed relegation, the Blue Lightnings continue to adopt a front-footed style, showcasing several academy products in recent weeks.
Adana’s defensive record has been particularly alarming, conceding a league-high 77 goals so far this season, and they are now just 14 away from equalling the all-time record of 91 goals conceded in a Super Lig campaign, set by city rivals Adanaspor in 2000-01.
The hosts have also lost 25 of their 31 games, inching closer to the unwanted record of 28 defeats in a single season with five matches left to play.
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In contrast, Goztepe are enjoying a vastly different campaign in their first year back in the top flight, as they currently sit nine points above the relegation zone and are on course to avoid the drop with a few matches to spare.
Although European football now looks beyond reach, survival will be a satisfactory outcome for a newly-promoted side in their first Super Lig campaign since 2021-22.
The visitors will take confidence from their emphatic 4-1 triumph over Istanbul Basaksehir last weekend, a result that ended their 11-game winless streak in the league.
Despite that morale-boosting win, Goztepe’s away form remains a concern, having failed to win any of their last nine on the road, drawing four and losing five, though a trip to the league’s bottom side presents an ideal opportunity to finally put that right.
It has been nearly impossible for Goz Goz to leave Adana with anything in the past, with their last visit to the New Adana Stadium ending in a 7-0 humiliation, but with the tables now turned, Sunday could offer the perfect setting to record their first ever victory on this ground.
Team News
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Adana Demirspor will be without Andreaw Gravillon, who remains sidelined with a long-term injury.
In attack, Yusuf Barasi is expected to deputise for the injured Abat Aymbetov, while Ali Yavuz Kol is set to start in place of the suspended Arda Kurtulan.
Goztepe are also dealing with several absentees, as Ismail Koybasi is likely to step in for the injured Djalma Silva at left-back, and David Tijanic is expected to feature from the outset as Novatus Miroshi and Juan are both ruled out.
Isaac Solet has suffered a cruciate ligament injury and will miss the rest of the season, while Malcom Bokele, who was not in line to start, is also unavailable.
Adana Demirspor possible starting lineup:
Donmezer; Burak, Ersoy, Kalender; Kaynak, Maestro, Celik, Alioui, Kol; Kavrazli, Barasi
Goztepe SK possible starting lineup:
Lis; Gunter, Heliton, Bayir; Bayrak, Dennis, Erdogan, Koybasi; Tijanic; Romulo, Juan
We say: Adana Demirspor 1-3 Goztepe SK
Goztepe should fancy their chances against an Adana Demirspor side that have been abysmal all season, and with confidence now restored, the visitors are well-placed to break their nine-match away drought.
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