Round 15 of the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig campaign will conclude with Gaziantep welcoming Caykur Rizespor to Gaziantep Stadium on Monday evening.
The hosts, who are living dangerously close to the relegation zone, will hope to shine more light into their season and avoid consecutive defeats for the second time in this campaign.
Match preview
Gaziantep finished in 11th place last season, but they were just four points better than the first side in the relegation zone, thanks to a good run in the tail end of the campaign.
GFK are in a similar situation this season, three points above the drop zone after playing 13 matches, with inconsistency and a leaky defence being their biggest issues.
After recording just one win in their opening six matches, Selcuk Inan's side managed to put together a four-match unbeaten run between October 6 and November 1, winning and drawing two each to lift them out of the bottom four.
However, two defeats in their last three matches, including a 3-1 loss to Fenerbahce last Monday, is threatening to put Gaziantep back into the pit of relegation, with three points now separating them from 16th-placed Kayserispor.
GFK will be looking to get back to winning ways and they will be confident of doing this given their solid home form – the hosts are unbeaten in their last six home matches across all competitions, while winning the last four in a row, including a last-gasp 1-0 victory over third-division side Batman Petrolspor in the Turkish Cup on Thursday.
The home side have also won their last two matches against the Black Sea Sparrowhawk by an identical 2-0 scoreline, and could win three home matches in a row against the visitors for the first time in the top flight.
Meanwhile, Rizespor's positive turnaround continued with a convincing 3-0 victory over Kayserispor last Sunday, thanks to Emrecan Bulut's first-half goal and Ali Sowe's second-half brace.
Ilhan Palut's side have now won their last four matches across all competitions, including a 3-2 win over fourth-division side Silivrispor in the Turkish Cup on Thursday, while they have won six out of the last seven.
The Black Sea Sparrowhawk now have 19 points, six points off fourth-place Besiktas who have played one extra game, and they currently occupy ninth place, which is the same position they finished last season.
Rizespor have won and lost three each of their six matches on the road in the Super Lig, placing them seventh in the away table, and with two of those victories coming in their last three, the visitors will be more confident than ever of ending their two-match losing streak at Gaziantep.
Team News
Gaziantep will remain without left-back Godfrey Stephen, who is currently sidelined with a leg injury, and he is their only absentee for this clash.
Kenan Kodro, who scored the late goal in Thursday's cup win, and David Okereke, who scored the consolation against Fenerbahce, are expected to start as the front two for GFK.
Meanwhile, Rizespor will be missing 26-year-old Greek midfielder Giannis Papanikolaou who is suspended after accumulating an unhealthy number of yellow cards.
However, the visitors will be welcoming back Amir Hadziahmetovic and Babajide David from suspension, while Casper Hojer Nielsen will be hoping to play for the first time since recovering from a muscle injury.
Gaziantep possible starting lineup:
Dioudis; M'Bakata, Kizildag, Viana; Ndiaye; Maxim, Ozcicek, Lungoyi, Sorescu; Okereke, Kodro
Caykur Rizespor possible starting lineup:
Grbic; Sahin, Mocsi, Alikulov, Pala; Papanikolaou Olawoyin; Ghezzal, Varesanovic, Bulut; Sowe
We say: Gaziantep 1-1 Caykur Rizespor
Gaziantep have been solid on home front in this campaign, and they have dominated this fixture at home in recent times.
However, they are coming up against a Rizespor side that have found a new gear in recent weeks, which is why we are predicting a stalemate.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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