Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Turkish Super Lig clash between Konyaspor and Istanbul Basaksehir, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Konyaspor will be hoping to end a two-game losing streak when they take on Istanbul Basaksehir at the Torku Arena on Sunday morning.
Meanwhile, the visitors will be looking to end a three-match winless streak in the Turkish Super Lig and a five-match winless run across all competitions.
Match preview
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Konyaspor narrowly escaped relegation last season, and their start to the new campaign has not been ideal, as they are currently just two points above the relegation zone, having picked up 11 points from 10 matches.
The Anatolian Eagles have lost half of their league games this season, including a 2-0 defeat to Besiktas and a 3-1 loss to Gaziantep in their last two.
The one-time Turkish Cup winners advanced in the domestic cup after a 4-0 victory over fourth-tier side Elaziz Belediyespor last Tuesday, but that was not enough to keep manager Ali Camdali‘s job, as he left the role by mutual agreement the following day.
Former Kayserispor head coach Recep Ucar was appointed as his replacement on the same day, signing a contract until the end of the 2025-26 season.
Ucar will hope to get off to a winning start when Konyaspor take on Basaksehir, but the hosts have not won their last two home matches against the visitors, losing the most recent one 3-2.
The Anatolian Eagles picked up a first home win of the season in their last home game against Eyupspor, but they have lost just one of four matches on home soil this season, and are unbeaten in the last three.
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Istanbul Basaksehir started the season in a great fashion, picking up 10 points from their opening four matches, with three wins and one draw.
However, the Grey Owls have since dropped off drastically, with just one win in their following five matches, alongside two losses and two draws.
Basaksehir could only salvage a 1-1 draw at home in their last game against Eyupspor, thanks to a Jerome Opoku penalty just before the hour mark after they had gone behind in the first half.
Cagdas Atan‘s side are now five points off fourth-placed Besiktas, having picked up 15 points from nine matches which leaves them in seventh place.
The Grey Owls have won three of the last five Super Lig meetings against Konyaspor, with the most recent being on the road, but they have already lost two away games this season, including the most recent one against Trabzonspor.
Konyaspor Turkish Super Lig form:
Istanbul Basaksehir Turkish Super Lig form:
Istanbul Basaksehir form (all competitions):
Team News
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Josip Calusic is the only player missing for Konyaspor, as he is still recovering from a ligament injury that is expected to keep him out until the middle of this month.
Melih Bostan scored a brace in the cup game, and Ucar might consider starting him on Sunday, but Blaz Kramer is expected to lead the line.
Istanbul are heading into this clash with a full squad available, with no injuries or suspensions to contend with.
Joao Figueiredo started in attack last time out, but Krzysztof Piatek could return to the starting lineup for this one.
Konyaspor possible starting lineup:
Slowik; Boranijasevic, Yazgili, Demirbag, Guilherme; Boateng, Bazoer; Erdogan Aleksic, Pedrinho; Kramer
Istanbul Basaksehir possible starting lineup:
Sengezer; Sahiner, Duarte, Opoku, Kemen; Crespo, Ergun; Pelkas, Davidson, Turuc; Piatek
We say: Konyaspor 1-1 Istanbul Basaksehir
Konyaspor will be hoping the new manager bounce myth works in their favour, but Basaksehir might prove too strong for them regardless, which is why we are predicting a draw with both teams scoring.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.