Eyupspor‘s final Turkish Super Lig clash will come on Saturday when they host Antalyaspor at Kasimpasa Stadium.
The home side are sixth in the table with 50 points but can no longer qualify for Europe following their 2-1 loss against Fenerbahce on May 18, while the visitors drew 0-0 with Gaziantep FK on the same day and are in 12th place with 44 points.
Match preview
Though Eyupspor produced 1.68 xG and three big chances against Fenerbahce, nearly 70% of their xG total (1.16) was produced in second-half stoppage time.
Head coach Arda Turan‘s side have scored 50 goals in the top flight, a return that makes them the worst offensive team in the top nine.
Turan may soon be on his way out of the club considering reports suggest an agreement could soon be reached with Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk.
In the meantime, the boss will hope to correct his current team’s poor form given they have lost their last five, conceding 14 while scoring just two times.
Eyupspor have also been beaten in their past two home matches and have been defeated in four, drawn two and won just two of their last eight at Kasimpasa Stadium.
As for the visitors, they were fortunate that Gaziantep did not convert any of their two big chances, and they will be thankful that Deian Sorescu‘s second-half strike only hit the post.
Antalyaspor have found goals difficult to come by of late considering they have only netted twice in their five most recent outings.
Scorpions manager Emre Belozoglu will hope to avoid a repeat of the reverse fixture against their hosts, when they lost 4-1 in the league on January 4.
Belozoglu’s side come into the clash having only triumphed in one of their past five games, losing on two occasions.
Supporters will be alarmed by the club’s failings on the road, with the team suffering 18 losses and drawing seven of their last 29 matches away from home.
Team News
Eyupspor will be without midfielder Fredrik Midtsjo, so perhaps anchor Taras Stepanenko will play behind Emre Mor and Yalcin Kayan.
Full-back Leo Dubois is also sidelined, and his injury could lead to the selection of Tayfur Bingol, Robin Yalcin, Luccas Claro and Umut Meras in a back four.
Prince Ampem, Mame Thiam and Umut Bozok may play in attack given forward Sinan Gumus is unavailable.
Meanwhile, Antalyaspor centre-back Burak Ingenc has been ruled out, as has right wing-back Erdogan Yesilyurt and goalkeeper Kenan Piric.
Veysel Sari, Bahadır Ozturk and Thalisson Kelven are likely to be stationed in a three-man defence ahead of shot-stopper Abdullah Yigiter on Saturday, while Mert Yilmaz and Guray Vural are the most probable candidates to be stationed as wing-backs.
With midfielder Emre Uzun set to be sidelined, Jakub Kaluzinski and Erdal Rakip could feature in a double pivot.
Eyupspor possible starting lineup:
Ozer; Bingol, Yalcin, Claro, Meras; Mor, Stepanenko, Kayan; Ampem, Thiam, Bozok
Antalyaspor possible starting lineup:
Yigiter; Sari, Ozturk, Kelven; Yilmaz, Kaluzinski, Rakip, Vural; Dikmen, Gaich; Safuri
We say: Eyupspor 1-1 Antalyaspor
While Eyupspor are in poor form and could be vulnerable, the visitors have rarely performed at the required level away from home.
With Antalyaspor struggling to create chances in attack, the most likely outcome on the weekend is a draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
