Fenerbahce will welcome Caykur Rizespor to Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on Sunday, aiming for a victory to keep their Turkish Super Lig title hopes alive.
Currently six points behind league leaders Galatasaray, the Yellow Canaries can ill afford any slip-ups as they continue their pursuit of dethroning their rivals.
Match preview
Fenerbahce faced the threat of Europa League elimination heading into Thursday's clash with FC Midtjylland, needing a positive result to stay in Europe.
They ultimately secured progression to the playoff round after a 2-2 draw with the Danish side, finishing 24th in the standings with 10 points, edging out Braga and Elfsborg on goal difference.
Up next, they take on Anderlecht in a two-legged playoff for a spot in the Round of 16, scheduled for February 13 and 20 – however, before shifting focus to Europe, the 19-time Super Lig champions must first navigate the domestic front where they are looking to win a title race.
Last weekend, Fenerbahce overcame a tough test against high-flying Goztepe, securing a 3-2 victory despite the absence of head coach Jose Mourinho, who was serving a suspension.
Now, they will be looking to extend their Super Lig winning streak to five matches as they host Caykur Rizespor, a side they have dominated in recent years, winning their last 11 meetings across all competitions.
The addition of Talisca from Al Nassr provides a major boost, enhancing Mourinho's attacking options while adding depth in what has been a productive winter transfer window for the Yellow Canaries.
Meanwhile, Rizespor remains the only top-flight team yet to record a draw away from home this season, with four wins and six defeats on the road, and they will be hoping to land on the right side of that trend this weekend.
However, history is against them, with their last away victory at Fenerbahce dating back to 1981, one of only two wins in 24 attempts at this venue.
Ilhan Palut's men have shown mixed form in recent weeks, alternating between wins and defeats, with their latest league outing being a 3-2 victory over bottom-placed Adana Demirspor.
The win lifted the visitors to eighth in the standings with 27 points, nine adrift of fourth-placed Eyupspor after 20 matches, leaving them with the chance of having a go for an European spot.
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Team News
Fenerbahce are struggling with injuries, particularly in defence, as first-choice goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic (thigh) and full-back Mert Muldur (shoulder) remain sidelined.
Meanwhile, Rodrigo Becao and Jayden Oosterwolde are also out with long-term knee injuries, but Talisca is expected to make his debut, providing a fresh attacking option for the hosts.
For Rizespor, Husniddin Aliqulov and Taha Sahin are both suspended due to accumulated yellow cards, meaning new signing Samet Akaydin and Casper Hojer are likely to step in.
Eray Korkmaz remains out with a broken foot, but Mithat Pala and Ivo Grbic have completed their suspensions and are available for selection.
Fenerbahce possible starting lineup:
Egribayat; Soyuncu, Djiku, Carlos; Aydin, Fred, Amrabat, Szymanski; Tadic; En-Nesyri, Dzeko
Caykur Rizespor possible starting lineup:
Cetin; Pala, Mocsi, Akaydin, Hojer; Papanikolaou, Olawoyin; Ghezzal, Varesanovic, Akintola; Sowe
We say: Fenerbahce 3-1 Caykur Rizespor
Fenerbahce's dominant record against Rizespor suggests another routine win, especially with Talisca adding firepower to their attack.
Rizespor's poor history at Sukru Saracoglu and their inconsistent away form does not inspire confidence, which is why we expect Mourinho's men to extend their winning streak.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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