Istanbul Basaksehir will be looking to earn their first points of the new Turkish Super Lig campaign when they welcome Fatih Karagumruk to the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadyumu on Sunday night.

The hosts suffered a disappointing loss at the home of Alanyaspor on the opening day, while Fatih lost to potential title-challengers Besiktas on home soil.

Match preview

Istanbul Basaksehir were unable to get off to a positive start in the 2023-24 Super Lig season, falling to a 2-0 defeat at Alanyaspor in their campaign opener.

Two lapses of concentration at the end of each half allowed Joao Novais and Carlos Eduardo to notch up their maiden goals of the term, leaving Basaksehir in the bottom four at this very early stage.

A fifth-placed finish last season means Emre Belozoglu's men only have domestic football to focus on this campaign, and the club will be looking to return to the heights which saw them win the Super Lig in 2019-20.

Sunday's hosts have been relatively quiet in the summer window to date, but the arrival of Polish striker Krzysztof Piatek from Hertha Berlin has certainly got sections of the Basaksehir supporters excited.

Fatih's seventh-placed finish in the 2022-23 season was their highest placement since returning to the top table of Turkish football, but they were unable to commence this term with any points on Monday.

The visit of Besiktas to Ataturk Olimpiyat Stadi was always going to be a difficult proposition for Karagumruk, and the hosts' defensive solidity wore off in the 85th minute when former Tottenham Hotspur man Gedson Fernandes bagged the winner for Senol Gunes's men.

Since that opening-day defeat, Fatih have welcomed a pair of signings from Serie A side Hellas Verona, with centre-back Federico Ceccherini and striker Kevin Lasagna coming through the metaphorical door.

Alparslan Erdem is now in charge at the club after being promoted from a player role in May, and the 34-year-old will be hoping his first season in management can result in European football in a year's time.

Team News

Basaksehir have a host of first-team players who are set to be out until later this month, with Mahmut Tekdemir and Patryk Szysz recovering from back and knee injuries respectively.

Brazilian Joao Figueiredo picked up two yellow cards during his side's loss at Alanyaspor on Monday night, meaning he will serve his one-game suspension this weekend.

As for Fatih, goalkeeper Matias Dituro is expected to retain his place in net after saving a penalty in the defeat to Besiktas last time out - the Argentinian did well to only concede the single goal on that night.

Ryan Mendes will be pushing for a start after his cameo on Monday, but it is expected that Adem Ljajic and Can Keles will partner Salih Dursun in the front three in Istanbul.

Istanbul Basaksehir possible starting lineup:
Sengezer; Ozbayrakli, Ie, Duarte, Touba; Karzev, Gurler, Aleksic, Pelkas, Ozcan; Piatek

Fatih Karagumruk possible starting lineup:
Dituro; Veseli, Baniya, Dresevic, Mercan; Rohden, Feghouli, Ugur; Keles, Ljajic, Dursun

We say: Istanbul Basaksehir 1-0 Fatih Karagumruk

Basaksehir were far from their best in the defeat at Alanyaspor last time out, but a first home clash of the campaign gives the hosts the opportunity to put things right quickly.

Fatih face a difficult away trip after pushing hard against Besiktas on Monday, and we are expecting back-to-back defeats for Erdem's charges.


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