Antalyaspor and Hatayspor will go head-to-head in a Turkish Super Lig clash on Sunday evening at the Antalya Stadyumu, both looking for their maiden win.
Both teams are still winless in the season after two matches, with the hosts aiming to bounce back from defeat, while the visitors will look to build on picking up their first point last time out.
Match preview
Antalyaspor secured a top-half finish in the 2023-24 Turkish Super Lig season under former Sergen Yalcin, who left the club when his contract ended in June.
Retired Brazilian attacking midfielder Alex took on the role of head coach heading into the new season, but has found it difficult to help the team hit the ground running this season.
The Scorpions settled for a goalless draw with newly-promoted Goztepe in their opening league match despite playing on home soil, before losing 4-2 to Besiktas in the second league game.
Braian Samudio gave Antalyaspor the lead in the first minute, but former Lazio striker Ciro Immobile quickly helped Besiktas turn the game around with a first-half brace.
Samudio completed his own brace to draw Alex's side level, but Rafa Silva restored the Black Eagles' lead and any hope of a comeback was squashed for Antalyaspor when Guray Vural was sent off in the 63rd minute before they conceded a fourth late in the game.
The Scorpions are one of the eight sides without a win after two Super Lig matches, a situation they will be hoping to rectify when they host Hatayspor on Sunday, looking to win back-to-back matches against them.
Antalyaspor have dominated this fixture at home with seven wins from the 10 times they played as hosts, while they also have an ongoing three-match unbeaten home streak in the Super Lig.
Hatayspor started their season with a 2-1 defeat to Galatasaray at the Rams Park despite leading the game until the last ten minutes.
Ozhan Pulat's men were also on course for a win in their second league match against Kasimpasa, but they conceded a 91st minute goal to end the game 1-1 despite leading since the 21st minute.
The Guneyin Yildizi will be hoping to be third-time lucky when they take on Antalyaspor, but their second and last win at Antalya Stadium was in 2020, when they scored six unreplied goals.
Hatayspor were heavily involved in the relegation scramble last season, and they had to pick up eight points from the last final 12 available to avoid the drop – and one of their biggest issues was a poor away form, which they will hope to avoid in this campaign.
Team News
Antalyaspor will be without Bunyamin Balci, who sustained a serious ankle injury in April last year and is still a few weeks away from returning to full fitness, while Moussa Djenepo is also sidelined.
Vural was sent off in the loss to Besiktas and will miss this clash due to a one-match suspension, leaving room for Amar Gerxhaliu as a potential replacement in the XI.
Twenty-one-year-old Hatayspor forward Joelson Fernandes has scored in each of the two games so far and will be looking to continue this run against Antalyaspor.
Centre-forward Carlos Strandberg is still waiting to open his account for the season, but he is expected to retain his spot in attack.
Antalyaspor possible starting lineup:
Piric; Gerxhaliu, Sari, Uzunhan, Thalisson; Dikmen, Rakip, Larsson, Van de Streek, Samudio; Yesilyurt
Hatayspor possible starting lineup:
Kardesler; Sertel, Yilmaz, Kilama, Corekci; Matondo, Diack, Pedro; Fernandes, Bamgboye, Strandberg
We say: Antalyaspor 0-1 Hatayspor
Hatayspor have been unfortunate to come out empty-handed in their opening two matches, and there will be optimism heading into this one, while Antalyaspor have clearly struggled so far – this is why we think that the visitors will narrowly edge out the hosts.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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