Round 14 of the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig will get underway when Antalyaspor host Sivasspor at New Antalya Stadium on Friday evening.
While the hosts will be hoping to steer further away from the relegation zone, the visitors are looking to edge closer to the top four.
Match preview
Antalyaspor produced a fine first-half display to secure a 3-2 win over Bodrumspor on home soil last time out, though they remained in 14th place with 14 points having played 12 matches.
The Scorpions conceded in the 13th minute, but between the 24th minute and the half-time break, Soner Dikmen, Adolfo Gaich and Sam Larsson all found the net to turn the game around, and they held on for the win despite conceding a penalty just before the hour mark.
However, Alex de Souza's men are still dangerously close to the relegation zone, just three points above Alanyaspor who are the first side in the drop zone.
Next in line for Antalyaspor is a clash with Sivasspor, a side that they have beaten just once in their last five matches across all competitions, while losing three times.
The Scorpions are looking to win two Super Lig matches in a row for the first time since November 2023, and they will be encouraged by the fact that three of their four league wins in this campaign have come on home soil.
After starting the season with two wins from their opening eight fixtures, Sivasspor appeared to have turned a corner when they won three league matches in a row.
However, Bulent Uygun's team have since failed to win any of their last two matches, losing 4-0 against Fenerbahce before a goalless draw with Kasımpasa last time out.
Despite the recent drop, the Braves are still seventh in the standings with 18 points, four points behind fourth-placed Eyupspor after playing 13 matches, and must now turn things around to close the gap.
However, having failed to win their last two Super Lig encounters against the hosts, Sivasspor will be wary of their opponents, though their last competitive win in this fixture came away from home.
Team News
Antalyaspor are likely to remain without Emrecan Uzunhan and Bunyamin Balci, who are hoping to recover in time from muscle and finger injuries respectively.
Centre-back Bahadir Ozturk is also sidelined with an ankle injury, while Erdal Rakip is suspended for one game after picking up an unhealthy number of yellow cards.
Sivasspor will be without defender Murat Paluli who is also suspended for this clash after accumulating an unwanted number of yellow cards.
Meanwhile, Mehmet Albayrak is unlikely to feature again this season following a cruciate ligament tear, while Rey Manaj is out until December with a hamstring injury.
Antalyaspor possible starting lineup:
Yigiter; Yesilyurt, Sari, Kelven, Vural; Rakip, Petrusenko, Larsson; Samudio, Larsson, Dikmen; Gaich
Sivasspor possible starting lineup:
Vural; Ciftci, Radakovic, Sonko Sundberg, Bieganski;Turgunboev; Mendes Rodrigues, Charisis, Moutoussamy, Bassan; Koita
We say: Antalyaspor 1-1 Sivasspor
Antalyaspor have mostly met expectations on home soil this season, only losing to Galatasaray and Fenerbahce at home.
However, we believe that Sivasspor have shown enough in recent weeks that they can be trusted to get a result, 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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