Trabzonspor will be aiming to inch closer to the Super Lig title when they embark on their travels to face Gaziantep on Friday.

The visitors, meanwhile, sit in 14th spot, but with 11 points separating them from the bottom four, their place in the top flight looks all but secured.

Match preview

With just seven games remaining and an 11-point gap to the relegation zone, it seems as though Gaziantep will extend their stay in the Super Lig into a fourth consecutive season.

Although, after finishing in the top half of the table in their last two campaigns, Friday's hosts are at risk of finishing outside the top 10.

Their current form suggests that it may prove tricky to improve on the 14th position that they currently occupy, with Gaziantep picking up just one win from their last eight games.

Gaziantep's most recent encounter resulted in a 2-1 defeat away to Kasimpasa, with the hosts coming from a goal down to clinch a dramatic victory courtesy of Florent Hadergjonaj's spot kick, which won the game for Kasimpasa in the seventh minute of stoppage time.

Despite losing last time out, Friday's hosts do have the chance to clinch consecutive home wins after they emerged victorious from their previous home encounter against Galatasaray.

Trabzonspor, meanwhile, are homing in on their seventh Super Lig title with the league leaders currently 13 points clear of second-placed Konyaspor.

Although they have not won the Super Lig since 1984, Trabonzspor have been far and away the best team in the top flight this season, losing just two of their 31 matches.

They are the highest scorers in the division, and their clinical nature in front of goal has not compromised their defensive capabilities with the league leaders also boasting the best defence in the top flight after conceding just 27 league goals this term.

By their high standards, their last two results have been slightly underwhelming as relegation-bound Caykur Rizespor clinched a 3-2 victory in Trabzonspor's most recent away match before Abdullah Avci's side played out a 1-1 home draw against Besiktas last weekend after Andrea Cornelius's opener for the hosts was cancelled out by Valentin Rosier.

Despite failing to win their last two matches, Trabzonspor will be confident that they can return to winning ways on Friday, having already beaten Gaziantep by a comfortable 3-0 scoreline this season.

Team News

Alexander Merkel and Hamza Mendyl are among those that will miss out for the hosts due to injury issues.

Gaziantep will also have to cope without the presence of Papy Djilobodji, who is suspended for Friday's encounter after receiving a straight red card against Kasimpasa.

With Djilobodji unable to take his place in the defensive line, Ertugrul Ersoy is expected to be given a starting berth in the back three.

As for the visitors, they have to contend with the suspensions of Manolis Siopis, Anastasios Bakasetas and Djaniny, who all miss out due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

Bruno Peres, meanwhile, will return to the starting lineup after serving a one-match suspension, with the Brazilian expected to slot in at right-back.

Cornelius came off the bench to score against Besiktas and the forward will be required from the off on Friday when he comes into the side to replace the suspended Djaniny.

Gaziantep possible starting lineup:
Guvenc, Ersoy, Tosca, Caulker; Kitsiou; Niyaz, Erdogan, Soyalp, Sagal; Demir, Figueiredo

Trabzonspor possible starting lineup:
Cakir; Peres, Turkmen, Denswil, Puchacz; Visca, Omur, Ozdemir, Hamsik, Nwakaeme; Cornelius

We say: Gaziantep 1-3 Trabzonspor

Trabzonspor may have failed to win their last two games, but the table toppers have proven to be a level above the rest in the Super Lig this season, and we think that they will showcase that quality on Friday to clinch a victory that would move them closer to the league title.

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