Action continues in the Turkish Super Lig as Ankaragucu and Sivasspor go head to head at the Eryaman Stadium on Friday.
Both teams are in midtable, and will look to steer further away from the relegation zone while closing the gap on the sides around the European spots.
Match preview
Ankaragucu's five-game unbeaten run across all competitions was brought to a jarring end in their last outing, a 2-1 defeat to league leaders Fenerbahce.
Tolga Cigerci's early penalty put the Ankara-based side ahead, but Cengiz Under's brace for the away team swiftly turned the tide.
This setback dropped Emre Belozoglu's men to 11th place in the Super Lig, five points clear of relegation and eight adrift of European hopefuls Besiktas.
Friday's hosts boasts a formidable home record, riding a three-game winning streak at the Eryaman Stadium, with victories over Karagumruk and Kasimpasa in the league, punctuated by a Turkish Cup triumph against Rizespor.
However, their impressive home form is countered by a historical struggle against Sivasspor, whom they have only managed to beat twice in their last eight league meetings on home soil.
Meanwhile, Sivasspor snapped their four-game winless streak in the league with a gritty 1-0 home victory over Besiktas.
Rey Manaj's early strike proved the difference, as the Sivas-based side resolutely defended against the Black Eagles' late onslaught.
This hard-fought win propelled Bulent Uygun's men up to 10th in the standings, six points clear of the relegation zone.
The Braves have excelled on the road, where they have collected the majority of their points this season, making them the fifth-best away side in the league.
However, their recent two-game away slump, comprising a 2-0 defeat to Samsunspor and a 2-1 loss to Antalyaspor, casts a shadow over their impressive travel record.
Uygun will be eager to arrest this slide as Sivasspor aims to push for a late charge towards the final European spot.
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- L
