Bodrumspor play host to Trabzonspor on Sunday ideally needing all three points to haul themselves back into contention to avoid relegation from Super Lig.
At a time when the home side sit three points adrift of safety, the visitors are in ninth position in the Turkish top-flight table.
Match preview
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In their first-ever Super Lig campaign, Bodrumspor have battled on valiantly in their bid to secure survival, and there will be those associated with the club that are satisfied that they are still in the running to achieve that target.
However, failing to win in four matches – accumulating just two points along the way – has led to ground being lost on Alanyaspor, who now sit three points clear of the relegation zone with three games left.
With Besiktas still on Bodrumspor’s schedule, Jose Morais will be aware that they need to take advantage of fixtures such as this one, even when his team have netted just twice in five outings.
Their two points across that period came in goalless draws, leaving them on just 24 strikes from 33 games, yet they remarkably remain with the fourth-best defensive record in the division having only conceded 37 times.
Just 28 goals have been scored in Bodrumspor’s home fixtures this season, netting and conceding 14 apiece, and there is no reason to think that a goal-fest of any sort will transpire here.
As for Trabzonspor, sitting in ninth spot at this stage of the season is not what they had in mind on the back of the third-placed finish in 2023-24.
Despite a recent 10-point haul from four matches, Fatih Tekke‘s team can finish no higher than fifth, and they must also shake off the disappointment of losing heavily to Galatasaray in the Turkish Cup final.
That had been their chance to secure European football for next season, but shipping a fifth-minute goal put them on their way to losing by a 3-0 scoreline.
Losing to the Super Lig leaders on that occasion followed a 2-0 reverse to the same opponents four days earlier, putting Tekke and his players in a position where they only have pride to play for.
Team News
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Although he was not expected to start, Taulent Seferi is missing for Bodrumspor through a one-match ban.
On a positive note, Arlind Ajeti can return from suspension and is in contention to regain his place in the middle of defence.
However, with Christopher Herelle impressing in his place, he may have to make do with a spot on the substitutes’ bench, but George Puscas should lead the line.
Meanwhile, Arsenii Batahov was withdrawn during the Turkish Cup final and is likely to be replaced in the Trabzonspor backline by Serdar Saatci.
John Lundstram is an option to return in midfield, as is Edin Visca on one of the flanks.
Bodrumspor possible starting lineup:
Sousa; Ergun, Herelle, Aytemur, Sen; Aslan, Mohammed, Antalyali; Fredy, Bardhi; Puscas
Trabzonspor possible starting lineup:
Cakir; Malheiro, Savic, Saatci, Eskihellac; Mendy, Yokuslu; Zubkov, Tufan, Nwakaeme; Banza
We say: Bodrumspor 0-1 Trabzonspor
With Trabzonspor having lost last time out, Bodrumspor will be encouraged when it comes to getting a result on the board. Nevertheless, with that defeat having come against Galatasaray, we feel that Trabzonspor will be able to shake it off and earn a hard-fought win.
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