Christmas Eve in Turkey might not involve sleigh bells and snow, but the New Adana Stadium promises a fiery encounter as Adana Demirspor welcome Antalyaspor for a captivating Turkish Super Lig clash.
The two teams sit level on 24 points after 16 games this season, with the Blue Lightnings in seventh, one place above the Scorpions who are eighth and only behind on goal difference.
Match preview
Adana Demirspor came back from a two-goal deficit to salvage a 2-2 draw against Gaziantep last time out at the Gaziantep stadium.
Serkan Damla's men conceded a goal in each half to Arda Kizildag and former Liverpool man Lazar Markovic but managed to fight back, scoring two quickfire goals via Emre Akbaba and Babajide David.
With 24 points from six wins, six draws and four defeats so far, the Blue Lightnings sit seventh in the standings but are just two points shy of Trabzonspor in the race for the final European spot.
Winless in six consecutive matches leading up to this weekend, the hosts will be keen to turn their fortunes around and secure a first triumph since October 28.
The Blue Lightnings have been solid at home this season, having the third-best record when playing as hosts, but they have failed to win their last two matches at the New Adana Stadium, losing 3-2 to Samsunspor, which followed a goalless draw with Fenerbahce.
Demirspor will be feeling confident for this particular one, having got the better of Antalyaspor of late, unbeaten in their last four Super Lig meetings, winning three and drawing one while outscoring the visitors 7-1 during this run.
When the two sides last met in the league, the Blue Lightnings triumphed 2-0 at the New Adana Stadium last season, with Akbaba and Cherif Ndiaye on the scoresheet.
While both sides are level on points, their recent forms have headed in different directions, with Antalyaspor coming into this on a seven-game unbeaten streak.
Nuri Sahin's side played out a goalless draw against Kasimpasa at Corendon Airlines Park in their last league match to make it three draws and four wins in their last seven league matches.
The Scorpions have two wins, two draws and three losses on the road in this campaign, but those two victories have come within their last four trips, while they drew their last away game against Hatayspor.
Antalyaspor are looking for their first league win in this fixture since June 2015, and they will be highly motivated to end the dry spell due to the respective forms of both teams coming into the match.
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Team News
Adana Demirspor will remain without forward Mario Balotelli due to a knee injury, while defender Andrew Gravillon is also sidelined with a muscle issue that is expected to keep him out until January.
In Balotelli's absence, M'Baye Niang has taken up the goalscoring mantle for the hosts with eight goals in 16 league appearances so far this term, and he is expected to lead the line once again while attacking midfielder Younes Belhanda plays in the supporting role.
Antalyaspor will take to the pitch without the services of Erdal Rakip, Guray Vural and Britt Assombalonga, who are all suspended for the clash.
Jakub Kaluzinski, Bahadir Ozturk and Adam Buksa are expected to start in their place on Sunday.
Helton Leite is currently recuperating from a shoulder injury and is not expected back until March.
Adana Demirspor possible starting lineup:
Makhammadaliev; Erdogan, Guler, Cisse, Svensson; Ndiaye, Akbaba; Stambouli, Belhanda, Sari; Niang
Antalyaspor possible starting lineup:
Dadakdeniz; Ozturk, Sari, Toprak, Safuri; Kaluzinski, Saric; Jehezkel, Bytyqi, Yesilyurt; Buksa
We say: Adana Demirspor 1-1 Antalyaspor
With Adana Demirspor and Antalyaspor on the same points, we anticipate a thrilling contest with both sides taking the game to each other. Sahin's side have been rock-solid lately but Demirspor have a good home record and have dominated this fixture in recent times.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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