Trabzonspor will conclude their championship-winning season with a Super Lig away game against European hopefuls Istanbul Basaksehir.
The hosts will be aiming to keep hold of fourth position on the final day of the season, while the champions are aiming to wrap up their campaign with consecutive victories.
Match preview
Istanbul Basaksehir currently occupy the fourth and final European qualification spot, putting them in prime position ahead of the final matchday of the Super Lig season.
However, a place in the Europa Conference League is far from secure, with Alanyaspor just a point behind in fifth position.
A win on Sunday would ensure that Istanbul Basaksehir will enjoy European football next term, but a failure to collect all three points leaves the door open to Alanyaspor.
The hosts are unbeaten in their last seven matches, but they would have been frustrated to drop points in their previous two outings.
Consecutive draws have seen Istanbul Basaksehir's five-point gap over Alanyaspor whittled down to just one, but those missed opportunities will quickly be forgotten if the home side emerges victorious from Sunday's contest.
In contrast to their hosts, Trabzonspor head into the game with no pressure on their shoulders, with the league title already sealed.
Despite winning the Super Lig for the first time since 1984, Abdullah Avci's side would have been disappointed to lose in the semi-finals of the Turkish Cup, denying them an opportunity to clinch a league and cup double.
Trabzonspor responded to their cup exit by beating Altay 2-1 last weekend, with an Ibrahim Ozturk own goal and an Anthony Nwakaeme penalty helping the champions collect all three points.
Sunday's visitors have been a cut above the rest in the top flight this season, which is demonstrated by the 11-point gap that they possess over the next best side in the Super Lig.
The champions, however, have struggled on their travels in recent weeks, with just one of their previous six away games resulting in victory.
- W
- D
- W
- W
- D
- D
- D
- D
- W
- D
- D
- W
- W
- W
- D
- D
- L
- W
Team News
Youssouf Ndayishimiye will miss out once again after missing the last seven matches for the hosts due to an injury issue.
Meanwhile, Fredrik Gulbrandsen is a doubt after being forced off in the 12th minute of the meeting with Giresunspor last weekend, with Stefano Okaka set to replace the Norwegian in the starting lineup.
Istanbul Basaksehir brought Leo Duarte back into the starting lineup last weekend, and the 25-year-old is set to partner Alexandru Epureanu in the centre of defence on Sunday.
As for the visitors, injury problems are expected to sideline Stefano Denswil, Manolis Siopis and Bruno Peres.
Serkan Asan limped off last weekend, and the defender will be replaced in the starting lineup by Dorukhan Tokoz.
Trabzonspor will also have to cope without the services of Marek Hamsik, who is suspended for the final matchday due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
Istanbul Basaksehir possible starting lineup:
Babacan; Caicara, Duarte, Epureanu, Lima; Turuc, Tekdemir, Cigerci, Ozcan, Trezeguet; Okaka
Trabzonspor possible starting lineup:
Cakir; Tokoz, Hugo, Kaplan, Koybasi; Bakasetas, Ozdemir; Visca, Omur, Nwakaeme; Cornelius
We say: Istanbul Basaksehir 2-2 Trabzonspor
Istanbul Basaksehir will be looking for the three points that would clinch them a top-four spot, but with the reverse fixture finishing all square, we think the hosts will be held to a point by the champions on Sunday.
For additional data used by our team to analyse our suggested result please click here.
Top tip
body check tags ::
Previews by email
