Goztepe SK, aiming to strengthen their position in the Turkish Super Lig standings, will host already-relegated Hatayspor at the Gursel Aksel Stadium on Sunday evening.
The hosts sit seventh in the table with 46 points, 12 clear of the relegation zone but nine points adrift of the European places, while the visitors have already had their demotion confirmed.
Match preview
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Goztepe have made an impressive return to the top flight for the first time since the 2021-22 season, with Stanimir Stoilov‘s side on track to secure a top-half finish in the Turkish Super Lig.
While European football appears out of reach, as Goz Goz trail the top four by nine points with only 12 left to play for, a campaign of confidently avoiding relegation will certainly count as a success.
Stoilov’s side may feel slightly disappointed in hindsight, however, as Goztepe sat fourth in the table on matchday 19 with 10 wins, four draws and five defeats, before a lacklustre run of 11 league games without a win saw them slip down the standings.
Goz Goz have successfully broken that streak in their most recent outings, heading into this clash on the back of successive victories – defeating Istanbul Basaksehir (4-1) and Adana Demirspor (2-1).
The hosts will aim to build on their newfound form when they welcome Hatayspor to the Gursel Aksel Stadium on Sunday, with the visitors the second team to have their relegation from the top flight already confirmed.
Hatayspor’s five-year stint in the Turkish Super Lig came to a dismal end with a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Besiktas two weeks ago, marking their fifth consecutive loss in a streak that has now stretched to six.
Star of the South have gone through four different managers this season, starting with Ozhan Pulat, followed by Riza Calimbay, a brief stint from Yilmaz Bal and now under the leadership of Murat Sahin.
Sahin has undoubtedly been the most successful of the four, leading Hatayspor to three of their four victories after 14 games in charge, but the manager was ultimately unable to guide them to safety.
Only bottom-of-the-league Adana Demirspor (79) have conceded more than Hatayspor’s 66, and they will now simply be aiming to limit the suffering in the final four games of the term.
Team News
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The hosts are anticipated to be without up to nine players for this encounter, including Djalma, Dogan Erdogan, Isaac Solet, Ismail Koybasi, Juan, Kuryu Matsuki, Malcom Bokele Mputu, Heliton and Novatus Miroshi.
Elsewhere, following back-to-back victories heading into this clash, including a 2-1 win last time out, Stoilov is likely to name a mostly unchanged starting team here.
As for the visitors, Lamine Diack, Rui Pedro, Vincent Aboubakar and Jonathan Okoronkwo are all not expected to feature due to injury issues.
Despite their ongoing six-game losing streak, Bilal Boutobba has been in prolific form recently, with two goals and an assist in his last three matches, and the forward should start on Sunday.
Goztepe SK possible starting lineup:
Lis; Altikardes, Gunter, Bayir; Nielsen, Dennis, Ildiz, Sangare; Tijanic; Kanatsizkus, Romulo
Hatayspor possible starting lineup:
Bekaj; Corekci, Kilama, Calvo, Sertel; Parmak, Massanga; Boutobba, Saglam, Bamgboye; Strandberg
We say: Goztepe SK 4-1 Hatayspor
Goztepe may have failed to defeat Hatayspor in their last three meetings, but given the significant difference in their league seasons and current form, we expect a commanding victory for the hosts.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
