Relegation-threatened Kasimpasa will be looking for their first-ever victory away to Fenerbahce when the two meet at the Estadio Sukru Saracoglu on Sunday afternoon.

Fenerbahce are currently top of the Turkish Super Lig by the slender margin of one point over Trabzonspor, with the club from Istanbul on the lookout for their first league title in eight years.

Match preview

After a perfect start to the campaign that saw the hosts win their opening three matches without conceding a goal, Fenerbahce were disappointed to have thrown away a lead to draw against Sivasspor in the first match back after the international break.

Disappointment turned to anger for boss Vitor Pereira, as his side were surprisingly beaten by Istanbul Basaksehir in their following game, who at the time had lost all five of their league matches.

Bouncing back with consecutive 2-1 wins over Giresunspor and Hatayspor has seen the Yellow Canaries climb back on top of the Super Lig table and they will be looking to make it three wins in a row this weekend.

Unlike their league form, Fenerbahce have struggled in Europe this season and remain winless after two matches in the Europa League.

Stumbling to a 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt in the opening match of the group, Fenerbahce suffered a humbling defeat to Olympiacos in midweek, beaten 3-0 by the record Greek champions.

Now facing an uphill challenge to qualify for the knockouts, Fenerbahce will be hoping to compete in Europe's premier competition, the Champions League, next season, with spaces on offer for the division's two highest teams.

They can strengthen their grip on one of the two places with a victory over Kasimpasa, who themselves could drop into the relegation zone should results go against them.

Having got off to an unbeaten start in their first trio of Super Lig fixtures, including an impressive 1-1 draw away to Fenerbahce's rivals Galatasaray, Kasimpasa went on to lose their next three matches, before stemming the tide of defeats with a welcome 2-2 draw against Konyaspor.

Still, Fuat Capa's men are winless in their last five league matches and a first victory since mid-August is unlikely to come this weekend, given their wretched head-to-head record against Fenerbahce.

Kasimpasa have managed only one win over Fenerbahce since September 2012, a run of 18 matches that has seen the Apaches register only one clean sheet.

Their chances of a surprise win are even slimmer considering they have never won at the Estadio Sukru Saracoglu, meaning all signs point to another three points for the league leaders.

Team News

Whilst an unlikely prospect, Kasimpasa's hopes of a result may be boosted by the number of Fenerbahce players absent through injury.

Missing since the start of September, Jose Sosa will miss this weekend's fixture following a multiple sclerosis diagnosis.

Similarly, Marcel Tisserand has also missed the majority of the month and, whilst a return is edging closer for the former Wolfsburg defender, the 28-year-old will not feature for the Yellow Canaries on Sunday.

As a result of dreadful luck with injuries this season, Irfan Can Kahveci has featured only twice in the league, and he will be missing once again through a hamstring problem.

Hopes of a victory for the home side could be damaged, as talisman Mesut Ozil missed their midweek European tie with a cold and the former Arsenal man is a doubt for this weekend's fixture.

For the visitors, their time with injuries has not been much better and a number of key Kasimpasa players are expected to be absent for their trip to Istanbul.

Nicolai Jorgensen suffered a knock following their defeat to Kayserispor and the striker has not yet recovered, making a return this weekend an unlikely prospect.

Having left Fenerbahce to join Kasimpasa in the summer, Nabil Dirar has played only 24 minutes for his new club and he is likely to be missing for the trip to face his former teammates.

Mortadha Ben Ouanes was dropped following the first two matches of the season and things got even worse for the Kasimpasa left-back when he suffered a muscle injury forcing him out for a number of weeks.

Fenerbahce possible starting lineup:
Bayindir; Novak, Min-Jae, Szalai; Kadioglu, Yandas, Gustavo, Gumuskaya; Berisha, Rossi, Valencia

Kasimpasa possible starting lineup:
Taskiran; Elmali, Serbest, Donk, Hadergjonaj; Travnik, Sadiku; Erdogan, Hajradinovic, Eysseric; Bozok

We say: Fenerbahce 3-0 Kasimpasa

Having established themselves as key title contenders with their early-season form, Fenerbahce will be confident of maintaining their position as league leaders when Kasimpasa visit this weekend.

Expect a strong performance from Pereira's side and do not be surprised to see them go big against a side battling for survival.

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