Two winless teams in the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig will clash when Alanyaspor host Hatayspor at Bahcesehir Okullari Arena on Sunday.
Both teams are coming off defeats in their most recent matches – the host lost 3-0 to Fenerbahce, while the visitors suffered a similar fate against Samsunspor.
Match preview
Alanyaspor have had a challenging start to the new season, with two losses and two draws from their first four league games, leaving them in 16th place with two points out of a possible 12.
Fatih Tekke's side are one of five teams without a win in the Super Lig this season, including their upcoming opponent, Hatayspor.
The Antalya-based team drew 1-1 with newly-promoted Goztepe in their opening game, lost 4-2 to Istanbul Basaksehir in their second match, drew 1-1 against Eyupspor, and then lost 3-0 to Fenerbahce in their most recent league outing.
A home game against Hatayspor offers Alanyaspor a good opportunity to secure their first win, given their historical dominance over the visitors, with three wins and five draws in their home matches against them.
However, Tekke's men have struggled to close out recent home matches, drawing the last four. While they are unbeaten in their last five, they have only one win in that period.
Like their hosts, Hatayspor's start to the current Super Lig season has been disappointing, with the team picking up just one point in four matches, which has left them in 18th place.
A 1-1 draw against Kasimpasa at home on matchday two is their solitary point so far, having kicked off with a narrow 2-1 defeat against Galatasaray, before going on to lose 3-2 away to Antalyaspor and 3-0 at home to Samsunspor last time out.
Guneyin Yildizi's biggest issue is their poor defence, which has seen only two teams concede more than them so far in the Super Lig – an issue Ozhan Pulat will need to address urgently if they are to turn their season around.
Although the visitors are facing another struggling team next, their away form leaves little confidence in their ability to pick up a win on the opposition territory – Hatayspor have not won an away game since January, a run that has covered seven away games in the Super Lig.
Team News
Alanyaspor have only one potential absentee ahead of this match, 24-year-old Angolan winger Loide Augusto, who may miss out due to a muscle injury.
Sergio Cordova, the team's top scorer with two goals in four appearances, is the player to watch.
Hatayspor will also be missing one player, as Congolese midfielder Massanga Matondo is out with an ankle injury.
Carlos Strandberg and Joelson Mendes, who have each scored two goals for the visitors this season, are the players to watch.
Alanyaspor possible starting lineup:
Taskiran; Balkovec, Aliti, Bayir, Hadergjonaj; Makouta, Richard; Ozdemir, Karaca, Cordova; Dursun
Hatayspor possible starting lineup:
Kardesler; Sertel, Yilmaz, Demir, Corekci; Hodzic, Diack, Parmak; Fernandes, Bamgboye, Strandberg
We say: Alanyaspor 1-1 Hatayspor
Both teams have had a disappointing start to the season, with neither having secured a win yet. However, we anticipate this match ending in a draw, similar to both fixtures last season, due to their defensive deficiencies.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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