Two sides living dangerously close to the relegation zone will go head to head when Trabzonspor host Kasimpasa at Papara Park to get the Turkish Super Lig round 15 underway on Friday.
Both teams have 15 points, and are only three points ahead of the first team in the drop zone, with both playing 13 matches.
Match preview
Following an emphatic 5-0 victory over Adana Demirspor, Trabzonspor were looking to pick up back-to-back victories for the first time this season, but the Black Sea Storm failed to do so, instead losing 2-1 to Alanyaspor last Saturday.
Denis Dragus's early goal gave Trabzonspor the lead, giving the impression that they were on course for another win – however, the Trabzon-based side conceded in the 44th and 50th minutes, and could not find a way back in the game despite playing with a man advantage for over 20 minutes.
The defeat meant that Senol Gunes's side remained without a win on the road this season, while it also saw them slip to 12th place, three spots above the relegation zone.
The clash against Kasimpasa is an opportunity for Trabzonspor to get back to winning ways, given that all their three wins in this campaign have come on home soil.
However, the Black Sea Storm have failed to win in their last two home matches against Friday's opposition, with the most recent such meeting ending in a 3-2 defeat back in January.
Kasimpasa began life under new manager Hakan Keles with a goalless draw away at Sivasspor, but the real encouragement for the manager will be how his team dominated possession and generated more attempts in the game.
Currently in 14th place, Keles will hope that this result serves as a springboard for his side to pick up the level of form that saw the Apaches finish in fifth place last season.
The visitors will head into Friday's clash with a six-match unbeaten streak on the road in the current league campaign, winning and drawing three each.
Though Kasimpasa have won just four times in 19 away games at Trabzonspor, the Apaches will be feeling confident heading into this clash given their recent results in that ground.
Team News
This game might be too early for Stefan Savic, who is likely to be the only absentee for Trabzonspor having not fully recovered from a hamstring injury.
The Black Sea Storm's top scorer, Simon Banza, who has scored eight league goals, is expected to lead the line once again.
Kasımpasa will remain without their captain Kenneth Omeruo until the new year due to a ligament injury.
Nuno da Costa is the leading scorer for the visitors with four goals, and he will hope to find the net again on Friday after blanking last time out.
Trabzonspor possible starting lineup:
Cakir; Malheiro, Batagov, Turkmen, Bosluk; Gunes, Mendy; Dragus, Cham, Canak; Banza
Kasimpasa possible starting lineup:
Gianniotis; Rodrigues, Ozcan, Opoku, Espinoza; Ouanes, Kara, Gul, Hajradinovic, Fall; da Costa
We say: Trabzonspor 1-1 Kasimpasa
The visitors are unbeaten away from home so far this season, with great teams like Galatasaray and Besiktas included in the run.
However, it will be another tough test against Trabzonspor who have been solid at home for the most part, which is why we are predicting a stalemate.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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