After suffering defeat in their Super Lig game, Istanbul Basaksehir will be hoping to quickly bounce back when they take on Eyupspor at Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadyumu on Monday afternoon.
However, the visitors, who won their last league game, are entering this clash hoping to avoid a third consecutive defeat on the road.
Match preview
Istanbul Basaksehir were thrashed 5-1 by Slovenian side Celje in a Conference League game on Thursday, leaving them without a win after two matches in the competition.
The Grey Owls conceded as early as the fifth minute, and to make matters worse, manager Cagdas Atan was sent off after just 25 minutes into a clash that his side looked second best for 90 minutes.
It has been a week to forget for Istanbul who conceded a 91st-minute goal to lose 1-0 against Trabzonspor in the Super Lig last Saturday, and ultimately slipped to sixth place after playing eight matches.
After starting the season in blistering form, Atan's side are going through a rough patch right now, having failed to win any of their last four matches across all competitions, while losing three of those games.
The Grey Owls are back at home where they have not lost in the Super Lig this season, winning two and drawing one, and they will hope to harness home support to push them to victory against a side they have never lost against on home soil across all competitions.
Eyupspor will hope to achieve a first victory away at Basaksehir in what will be the first ever top-flight meeting between both sides, though they have met nine times in the past across the second and third divisions, as well as friendlies and one cup clash.
A first-half goal from Ahmed Kutucu was enough to secure a 1-0 victory over Goztepe last time out, which took the visitors to fifth place with 15 points, one point and spot above the hosts who have played one fewer game.
Arda Turan's side are two points behind fourth-placed Fenerbahce, and a win here could take them into the top four if the result in the Fenerbahce versus Bodrum game favours them.
However, Eyupspor have lost 2-1 in each of their last two away games, and will have to end a two-match losing streak on the road while picking up a second away win in this campaign.
Team News
Istanbul are heading into this clash with their full squad available, with no injuries or suspensions to contend with.
Krzysztof Piatek has scored the most Super Lig goals in the team this season (five), and he will be the man to watch once more as he is expected to lead the line.
Eyupspor will remain without midfielder Recep Niyaz, who is sidelined with a knee injury until early November, and Umut Meras, who is out with an ankle issue.
Kutucu is in a rich vein of form, having scored in each of the last three games to take his league tally to four, and he will be hoping to extend the streak on Monday.
Istanbul Basaksehir possible starting lineup:
Sengezer; Sahiner, Ba, Opoku, Duarte; Ozdemir; Crespo, Ozdemir, Kemen; Gurler, Piatek, Turuc
Eyupspor possible starting lineup:
Ozer; Dubois, Claro, Yalcin, Kabasakal; Midtsjo, Shelvey; Akbaba, Saiz, Kutucu; Thiam
We say: Istanbul Basaksehir 1-1 Eyupspor
Istanbul appear short of confidence at the moment, especially in attack, and this is likely to affect their ability to exploit Eyupspor's defence – though we ultimately believe that both teams will end the game in a draw as they are on about the same level at the moment.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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