The 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig round six fixtures will kick off with a clash between Hatayspor and Bodrumspor at Mersin Stadyumu on Friday.
The hosts are winless after five league matches, while the visitors have just one win having played the same number of games.
Match preview
Hatayspor's wait for their first league win of the season continued, as they were unable to break the deadlock against fellow winless side Alanyaspor in their last match, with both teams settling for a goalless draw.
This result means that the Guneyin Yildizi now have just two points from five league matches, leaving them second from bottom in the Super Lig table.
One positive that manager Ozhan Pulat could take from their last league match is that his side kept their first clean sheet of the campaign, and they will hope to build on it when they host Bodrum on Friday.
However, while Hatayspor can take some positives defensively, Pulat will be worried about the lack of potency in his side's attack, as they have now failed to score in the last two matches, after scoring in each of the first three matches.
It will be the first ever top flight meeting between both sides, having previously met twice in the lower divisions – Hatayspor won both – and once in a friendly match that the visitors won.
Meanwhile, Bodrum are aiming for their first-ever competitive victory, but their previous matches offer little hope of achieving that this weekend.
Ismet Tasdemir's side have struggled to win matches in their maiden top-flight campaign, having historically gained promotion from the second tier to the Turkish Super Lig at the end of the previous season.
Bodrum have won only one of their five league matches so far, a 3-1 victory over Konyaspor at Bodrum Ilce Stadi on August 24, while they have lost the other four.
In their most recent league outing, the club from Mugla lost 1-0 at home against Istanbul Basaksehir, conceding a 91st-minute goal in a game that ended with both teams having ten men.
With three points so far, Bodrum are 16th in the table, and without a quick turnaround in fortunes, they could be in serious danger of relegation to the Turkish second division by the end of the season.
Friday's clash will be the third top-flight game on the road for Tasdemir's men, and they have lost the previous two by a combined 6-1 scoreline – losing 4-1 to Eyupsor and 2-0 to Goztepe.
Team News
Hatayspor have all players fit and available for Friday's clash, which will leave team manager Pulat with a wealth of options.
Carlos Strandberg and Joelson Fernandes, who have each scored two goals for the visitors this season, are the players to watch for the hosts.
Fredy was sent off in Bodrum's last league game and he will be missing this match through suspension.
A number of players are also sidelined with injuries, including Tunahan Akpinar, who is out with a shin injury and is not expected to return to action until later this month.
Mustafa Erdilman is out until next year with a ligament injury, while Suleyman Ozdamar will have to recover from an ankle issue which makes him a doubt.
Hatayspor possible starting lineup:
Kardesler; Sertel, Calvo, Kilama, Corekci; Matondo; Rivas, Saglam, Diack, Fernandes; Strandberg
Bodrumspor possible starting lineup:
Sousa; Ergun, Ajeti, Aytemur, Sen; Mohammed; Dimitrov, Bilsel, Brazao, Bayrakdar; Puscas
We say: Hatayspor 1-1 Bodrumspor
Both teams have had disappointing starts to the season, and have produced identical performances both in attack and defence – this is why we think there will be no winner after 90 minutes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
body check tags ::
Previews by email
