Preview: Konyaspor vs. Ankaragucu - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts are currently languishing in 19th place in the Turkish Super Lig table, while the visitors head into the weekend in 11th position.

Match preview

Konyapor are fighting to retain their top-flight status after winning four, drawing 10 and losing 10 of their 24 league games this season.

Having endured a difficult season, Konyaspor find themselves four points adrift from safety with 14 matches left to play.

Fahrudin Omerovic has experienced mixed results since being appointed Konyaspor head coach in January, with his four league matches producing three draws and one defeat.

While the 62-year-old is still searching for his first league win, he has overseen two victories in the Turkish Cup, including in Wednesday's close-fought last-16 tie against Sivasspor, where Ahmet Oguz scored a 109th-minute goal to lead his side to a 1-0 win in extra-time.

Konyaspor will hope to carry their cup form into their league campaign, as they look to claim their first top-flight victory since beating Kayserispor in December.

Like their hosts, Ankaragucu enjoyed a successful midweek outing in the Turkish Cup, as they swept past third-tier 24 Erzincanspor via a 5-1 scoreline thanks to goals from Tolga Cigerci, Pedrinho, Uros Radakovic, Federico Macheda and Sirozhiddin Astanakulov.

As a result of their commanding cup win, Ankaragucu have now lost just one of their last eight matches across all competitions.

However, they have only taken one point from their previous two league outings after following a defeat to Fenerbahce with a goalless draw against Sivasspor.

With five points separating them from the drop zone, Emre Belozoglu's side still have work to do if they are to extend their stay in the top flight into a third consecutive season.

Ankaragucu can take confidence from the fact they have avoided defeat in each of their last five competitive games against Konyaspor (W2, D4), while their most recent head-to-head away meeting produced a narrow 1-0 victory.

Konyaspor Turkish Super Lig form:

L

D

D

D

L

D

Ankaragucu Turkish Super Lig form:

D

W

D

W

L

D

Team News

Omerovic is expected to make wholesale changes after rotating his Konyaspor squad for the midweek cup tie against Sivasspor.

Ugurcan Yazgili, Filip Damjanovic and Guilherme are set to return to the back four, where Oguz is poised to retain his palace at right-back.

Steven N'Zonzi and Alexandru Cicaldau are likely to come back into the midfield, while Ogulcan Ulgun and Alassane Ndao are also in line for recalls.

As for the visitors, they are expected to be without the services of defender Tolga Cigerci and midfielder Efkan Bekiroglu.

Cape Verde international Garry Rodrigues could feature among the substitutes following his return from the Africa Cup of Nations.

Stelios Kitsiou, Ali Kaan Guneren, Olimpiu Morutan and Ali Sowe are all set to return to the starting lineup after dropping out of the side for the midweek cup win.

Konyaspor possible starting lineup:

Ertas; Oguez, Yazgili, Damjanovic, Guilherme; N'Zonzi, Cicaldau; Prip, Ulgun, Ndao; Ethemi

Ankaragucu possible starting lineup:

Gungordu; Kitsiou, Radakovic, Mujakic, Hanousek; Pedrinho, Cigerci, Guneren; Morutan, Cephas, Sowe

We say: Konyaspor 1-1 Ankaragucu

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