Avoiding a fourth straight defeat will be the objective for Caykur Rizespor when they welcome Istanbulspor to Caykur Didi Stadyumu on Sunday.

For Istanbulspor, this weekend's clash also provides them the opportunity to return to winning ways off the back of four consecutive losses across all competitions.

Match preview

Rizespor came away empty-handed from their clash against Gaziantep at the Gaziantep Stadyumu on Monday, which ended in a disappointing 2-0 defeat.

Ilhan Palut's men fell behind to Alexandru Maxim's 20th-minute penalty before Denis Dragus sealed the deal five minutes into the second period.

As a result, the Black Sea Sparrowhawks have dropped to 11th place in the Turkish Super Lig table, outside the top half only on goal difference.

Lying in store next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have only managed to avoid defeat in one of the most recent six editions of this fixture.

Having recently suffered a first home defeat since the turn of the year, Sunday's hosts will be keen to avoid back to back losses in front of their fans for the first time since 2021.

Istanbulspor were on the receiving end of a 2-1 defeat against newly-promoted Samsunspor when the teams faced off at Samsun 19 Mayis Stadyumu on Wednesday.

Hakan Yakin's men went into the interval with a narrow lead courtesy of Emir Gultekin before second-half goals from Soner Aydogdu and Youssef Ait Bennasser turned the contest on its head.

With five points picked up from 11 matches, the Bulls remain rooted to the bottom of the league standings and are already five points adrift of safety.

Off the back of four consecutive defeats on the road leading up to Sunday's affair, the visitors set out to turn their away fortunes around.

Team News

Rizespor's Efe Tecimer remains without an appearance since the turn of the year due to a knee problem, and the forward will not feature this weekend.

Benhur Keser missed the defeat to Gaziantep last time out through a knock, but he could make a return to action for the home side here.

Thirty-two-year-old Simon Deli is a huge doubt for Istanbulspor as he continues to nurse a foot injury which ruled him out of six matches.

Emir Gultekin has found the back of the net in three of his last four matches for the visitors, making the Turk one to keep a close watch on.

Caykur Rizespor possible starting lineup:
Akkan; Pehlivan, Topcu, Mocsi, Korkmaz; Shelvey, Pala; Zeqiri, Olawoyin, Gustavo; Minchev

Istanbulspor possible starting lineup:
Jensen; Temel, Yesil, Erdogan, Duhaney; Gultekin, Loshaj, Rroca, Ndao; Laurentino, Yilmaz

We say: Caykur Rizespor 2-1 Istanbulspor

Neither team is in particularly good form heading into this one, and Sunday's game could easily swing either way. That said, we just about fancy the home side to carry the day come the sound of the final whistle.


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