Konyaspor will be aiming to extend their impressive home run when they welcome relegation-threatened Alanyaspor to Konya Metropolitan Municipality Stadium for the penultimate matchday of the Turkish Super Lig.
While the hosts are already assured of top-flight safety, the visitors still have work to do, though they approach this encounter with their fate firmly in their own hands.
Match preview
Konyaspor claimed a narrow but hard-earned 2-1 victory over Rizespor last time out, with the result highlighting the Anatolian Eagle’s growing resolve in front of their own fans.
Mehmet Umut Nayir played the hero on the day with a well-taken brace, including the winner just six minutes after the visitors had levelled proceedings.
Recep Ucar‘s men last dropped points on their own turf in mid-February when they fell 2-1 to Samsunspor, but since that setback, Konyaspor have pieced together a six-match winning streak on home soil, keeping four clean sheets and recording a string of 1-0 triumphs before finding their range with more goals in their last two outings.
The Anatolian Eagle’s latest results have seen them breach the 41-point mark reached in the previous campaign, now sitting on 46 from 13 victories, seven draws and 14 defeats, placing them 10th and within touching distance of their third-most top-flight tally with two matches still to play.
All of this gives Sunday’s encounter additional weight, but Konyaspor will be wary of an opponent they have not beaten in their last three meetings, with one draw and two losses.
Alanyaspor triumphed 2-0 on their last trip to Konya before backing it up with a 2-1 home success in January, meaning confidence in the away camp will be anything but low ahead of this must-win affair.
Joao Pereira‘s men endured a torrid spell from early March to the first part of April, suffering five consecutive losses but have since found a measure of stability, with two victories, as many draws and just one defeat from their last five outings.
Interestingly, both wins in that run came by a single goal, which underlines the fine margins Alanyaspor have been operating within and hints that a solid defensive performance will once again be pivotal to their chances this weekend.
That said, the Thunder were unable to protect a first-half lead in their most recent outing, with Hwang Ui-Jo‘s opener cancelled out by a Rafa Silva equaliser in the 71st minute, forcing them to settle for a 1-1 draw against Besiktas.
That result moved Alanyaspor to 39 points, three clear of 16th-placed Bodrumspor, and with only two games left to play, even a point at Konya could prove crucial in ensuring they steer clear of the danger zone.
Team News
Emmanuel Boateng and Tunahan Tasci remain sidelined through injury, though neither was expected to feature in the starting XI even if available.
In more encouraging news for the hosts, Melih Ibrahimoglu returns from suspension and is expected to slot straight back into Recep Ucar’s midfield setup.
Mehmet Umut Nayir, who bagged a brace in the victory over Rizespor, should once again spearhead the attack as he looks to build on that eye-catching display.
For the visitors, 22-year-old Buluthan Bulut is still recovering from injury and will play no part in this crucial penultimate encounter.
Having earned a valuable point against Besiktas while lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, Joao Pereira is likely to retain that shape here as he searches for balance and discipline on the road.
Despite the away setting, the Portuguese tactician is tipped to unleash Andraz Sporar, Sergio Cordova and Hwang Ui-Jo from the off, aiming to unsettle a backline that has not been breached too often in recent home outings.
Konyaspor possible starting lineup:
Slowik; Guilherme, Bazoer, Demirbag, Boranijasevic; Ibrahimoglu, Bjorlo, Jevtovic; Erdogan, Nayir, Ndao
Alanyaspor possible starting lineup:
Taskiran; Aksoy, Lima, Aliti; Ozdemir, Richard, Janvier, Hadergjonaj; Cordova, Ui-Jo; Sporar
We say: Konyaspor 2-1 Alanyaspor
Although Alanyaspor have held the upper hand in recent meetings between the sides, they now face a Konyaspor outfit that has made their home ground a fortress, and with the hosts hitting three goals across their last two games at Konya Metropolitan, they are tipped to edge this contest by outscoring their visitors.
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