Ilhan Palut will be hoping his Konyaspor side can maintain their unbeaten start to the season when they travel to North-Eastern Turkey on Sunday for their Super Lig match against Giresunspor.

Konyaspor are one of four teams level on 10 points after four matches and are looking to keep up the pace with their fellow European hopefuls.

Match preview

Sokol Cikalleshi bagged an 88th-minute winner to give Konyaspor all three points in their 2021-22 season opener against Sivasspor.

The Albanian international was on target once again as the Anatolian Eagles came from behind to stun the 2019–20 champions İstanbul Basaksehir on matchday two.

A 1-1 draw against Adana Demirspor followed, before Palut's men returned to winning ways with a convincing 3-1 victory over last season's TFF First League playoff winners Altay SK in their first match after the international break.

Another newly-promoted side await Konyaspor this weekend, however Giresunspor have struggled with life back in the Super Lig and enter the fixture bottom of the table.

Handed the tricky test of record Turkish champions Galatasaray in their first top-flight match for over 44-years, Giresunspor suffered a comprehensive 2-0 loss against the Lions.

Further defeats against Kasimpasa and Trabzonspor followed for Hakan Keles's side, before yet another loss away to Alanyaspor in their last outing.

Yet to pick up a point so far this season, an immediate return to the second-tier looks likely for Giresunspor, unless they can start to put results on the board soon.

Despite a rocky start to the campaign, Giresunspor do boast an impressive record against Konyaspor, losing just one of their past four league matches.

What is more, the Cotanaklar were victorious in the pair's first-ever meeting back in 2009, when former Konyaspor midfielder Bulent Bolukbasi was on target for Giresunspor as they came out 3-2 winners.

It is unlikely Keles's men will be able to replicate their victory from 12-years ago, given the strong form of Konyaspor, who have their sights set on a return to European football.

Under the tutelage of legendary manager Aykut Kocaman, Konyaspor lifted both the Turkish Cup and Turkish Super Cup, whilst qualifying for back-to-back Europa League group-stages.

Picking up just one win across both season's appearances, should Palut manage to steer them back towards continental football, they will be desperate for better returns.

Team News

New signing Alexis Perez has started every game for Giresunspor since arriving from Atletico Lanus in the summer and the Colombian will likely lead the line for the division's worst attack.

Giresunspor are yet to score this season, with much of the expectation falling on the shoulders of captain, Ibrahima Balde. The 32-year-old scored 19 times during the Cotanaklar's triumphant promotion campaign last season, yet started their last match against Alanyaspor on the bench.

Should Balde be left out of the side once more, former Leeds United striker Souleymane Doukara will likely step into his spot once more.

The league's bottom-placed club will be boosted by the return of veteran left-back Husamettin Tut, who could feature following a red-card picked up in their recent defeat to Galatasaray.

Cikalleshi has started the season in fine form, scoring twice and picking up one assist, with the 31-year-old likely to start up-front for Konyaspor's visit to the Cotanak Stadium.

With two goals to his own name himself, Abdulkerim Bardakci has been a surprise scorer for Konyaspor so far, yet the Turkish defender will likely be more interested in helping his side to their first clean sheet since the opening day of the season.

Despite a return etching ever closer, Paul-Jose Mpoku will miss the visit to Giresunspor, following an injury picked up in early September.

Giresunspor possible starting lineup:
Piri; Behich, Fontanilla, Douglas, Yavru; Flavio, Pelupessy, Suleymanov; Diabate, Doukara, Serginho

Konyaspor possible starting lineup:
Sehic; Guilherme, Bardakci, Calik, Skubic; Gurler, Dikmen, Hadziahmetovic; Bytqi, Cikalleshi, Cekci

We say: Giresunspor 0-2 Konyaspor

It has been a tough start to life back in the Super Lig for Giresunspor and an immediate return to the second-tier looks likely.

Their season will not be defined by the results they pick up against the better teams in the division, like Konyaspor, yet it is unlikely Giresunspor will be able to stop the early-soon pace setters.

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