Antalyaspor will be hoping they can end a four-match losing streak against Fenerbahce when both teams face off at New Antalya Stadium on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the visitors will be looking to return to winning ways after losing to Galatasaray in the highly-anticipated Intercontinental derby last time out.
Match preview
Antalyaspor began this season hoping to surpass their 10th-place finish from the previous campaign, but their early results have left them exactly where they were after six matches.
Alex de Souza's team has earned eight points from a possible 18, sharing the wins, draws, and losses equally after six matches, the most recent of which was a goalless draw with Kasimpasa.
Antalyaspor will cling to the positive of a two-match unbeaten streak – which includes a win over Adana Demirspor – heading into this match against a historically dominant opponent.
Another confidence-boosting statistic for the Scorpions will be that they have not lost any of their last four home matches dating back to the previous season, with three of those games coming in this campaign, resulting in two wins and a draw.
However, having the second-worst defensive record in the division heading into a clash against such a formidable opponent puts their unbeaten home run at risk.
Fenerbahce kicked off their 2024-25 Europa League campaign with a 2-1 victory over Belgian side Union SG on Thursday, in a game both teams ended with ten men.
It was a much-needed win for Jose Mourinho's side who were still reeling from losing their first Turkish Super Lig game of the season against bitter rivals Galatasaray, which saw them trailing the same side by five points and level on points with third-placed Besiktas.
The Yellow Canaries conceded three goals before the hour mark before Edin Dzeko pulled one back from the spot in the 63rd minute, but Mourinho's men could not pull off a successful comeback, losing 3-1 on the day.
However, the season is still young and Fenerbahce will know that they have to go on a long winning run for the possibility of closing the five-point gap between them and Gala, who are looking to win the league title for the third time in a row.
A seven-match unbeaten run in the Super Lig suggests that the visitors have been solid on the road for a while, but this run includes three draws, an outcome that will not be enough on Sunday in their pursuit of the league leaders.
Team News
Emrecan Uzunhan picked up a muscle injury in Antalyaspor's win against Demirspor and remains sidelined for the next couple of weeks.
He is joined on the hosts' treatment table by Bunyamin Balci, who is out with a finger injury until mid-October.
Bright Osayi-Samuel was back on the pitch for Fenerbahce in the Europa League after recovering from a foot injury and is in contention for a starting place on Sunday.
Dzeko's penalty against Gala helped him become the outright leader of the Super Lig's scorers chart with five goals, and he should retain his spot as the starting striker.
Sofyan Amrabat played from the start against Union SG on Thursday, and we wait to see if he did enough to retain his spot.
Antalyaspor possible starting lineup:
Piric; Yilmaz, Sari, Thalisson, Vural; Kaluzinski, Rakip; Townsend, Larsson, Djenepo; Samudio
Fenerbahce possible starting lineup:
Livakovic; Muldur, Djiku, Soyuncu, Oosterwolde; Yuksek, Fred; Saint-Maximin, Szymanski, Tadic; Dzeko
We say: Antalyaspor 0-2 Fenerbahce
Fenerbahce are like a wounded lion that needs to restore its pride, and this gives them an extra motivation heading into this clash against a side that they have beaten in the last four encounters, which is why we are predicting a win for the visitors.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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