Besiktas will be aiming to break into the top three when they welcome bottom-placed Adana Demirspor to Tupras Stadium on Sunday.
The Black Eagles are currently fourth in the Turkish Super Lig table, but a win this weekend will take them to the Europa League spot.
Match preview
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Besiktas stunned title-chasing Fenerbahce with a gritty 1-0 win at Sukru Saracoglu last time out, as Gedson Fernandes capitalised on a defensive lapse to score the only goal after missing an early penalty.
That victory reinforced the Black Eagles’ recent tendency to perform in the big matches under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with wins against Galatasaray and Trabzonspor also under their belt, the Istanbul giants have enjoyed games where they are not tasked with breaking down low blocks.
Currently on 55 points, Besiktas have a real chance to climb into third with a win this weekend, given Samsunspor are not in action, and with the visit of a team rooted to the foot of the table next in line, the hosts will be confident about achieving this.
Still, the memory of a shock 2-1 loss in the reverse fixture will serve as a warning, so Solskjaer’s men will need to approach this with the same focus and intensity shown last weekend.
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Adana Demirspor, by contrast, are already condemned to relegation and arrive in Istanbul in woeful form, having lost 2-1 to Goztepe last time out, a result that stretched their winless run to a staggering 16 matches in the Super Lig.
They have now suffered seven successive defeats and boast the worst defensive record in the division, having shipped 79 goals so far, a number just 12 shy of the all-time record (91) for most goals conceded in a single Super Lig season, set by city rivals Adanaspor in 2000-01.
Adana have now lost 26 of their 32 league games, and with four more matches remaining, unless there is a dramatic late turnaround, they could break the unwanted record of 28 defeats in a single season, held by Kardemir Karabukspor from 2017-18.
Having won just two games all season, Adana are also on track for the fewest wins in a Super Lig campaign, a record jointly held by Diyarbakirspor (1981-82), Konyaspor (1992-93), Zeytinburnuspor (1996-97), Adanaspor (2000-01), and Ankaragucu (2011-12), all of whom finished with just two victories.
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Team News
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Besiktas will be without the suspended Mert Gunok, meaning Ersin Destanoglu will deputise in goal for the Black Eagles.
Felix Uduokhai is set to start in defence in place of the injured Emirhan Topcu, with the trio of Bakhtiyor Zaynutdinov, Salih Ucan and Elan Ricardo all sidelined.
Adana Demirspor have Salih Kavrazli out injured, so Abat Aymbetov will lead the line, while Andreaw Gravillon remains unavailable with a long-term injury.
However, Arda Kurtulan returns to the starting XI after serving a suspension, but there could be more changes from the manager with nothing at stake but pride.
Besiktas possible starting lineup:
Destanoglu; Masuaku, Paulista, Uduokhai, Svensson; Chamberlain, Fernandes; Rashica, Rafa, Muci; Immobile
Adana Demirspor possible starting lineup:
Donmezer; Burak, Ersoy, Kalender; Kurtulan, Maestro, Barasi, Aydogan, Burak, Balat; Ambeytov, Kol
We say: Besiktas 3-0 Adana Demirspor
Besiktas should have no trouble seeing off a deflated Adana side, with confidence high and third place in sight, Solskjaer’s men are expected to dominate proceedings and pile on further misery for the Super Lig’s worst defence.
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