Alanyasporvs.Istanbulspor

The visitors became the first team to be relegated from the Turkish Super Lig after losing to Fatih Karagumruk in their last league outing.

Match preview

Alanyaspor returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Konyaspor last Saturday, thanks to goals from Florent Hadergjonaj and Carlos Eduardo.

This win helped Fatih Tekke's side climb to ninth position, where they are currently level on 45 points with 10th-placed Sivasspor as the season reaches its climax.

The Alanya-based outfit have won four of their last five matches, with the defeat to Galatasaray their only blemish in this period.

They return home this weekend, looking to complete the double over bottom side Istanbulspor for the first time in history after recording a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture.

However, they lost their only previous home fixture against the visitors in the top flight, and have a mixed record of one win, one draw, and one defeat in three meetings at Bahcesehir Okullari Stadium.

Istanbulspor were relegated from the Turkish Super Lig after their 2-1 defeat to Fatih Karagumruk last time out.

The game looked like it would end goalless until it came alive in the last five minutes. Racine Coly put the Bulls ahead in the 85th minute but they quickly surrendered the lead a minute later. Seven minutes into stoppage time, Sofiane Feghouli stepped up to convert a penalty for Karagumruk.

The Bulls have 16 points, 19 adrift of safety with five games remaining, and are mathematically unable to avoid relegation. After two seasons in the top flight, Istanbulspor are heading back to the second division following a torrid season with many lows.

These included changing managers, points deductions, and even walking off the pitch during a match. The Istanbul-based club simply failed to replicate the kind of performance that saw them finish 12th in the previous season.

Alanyaspor Turkish Super Lig form:

W

W

W

W

L

W

Istanbulspor Turkish Super Lig form:

D

L

L

L

W

L

Istanbulspor form (all competitions):

L

L

L

L

W

L

Team News

Alanyaspor have a full squad to choose from, as they have no injuries or suspensions reported at this time.

Ahmed Hassan is the man expected to lead the line once again for the Alanya outfit, while Efecan Karaca provides support.

For the visitors, Coly, Florian Loshaj and Modestas Vorobjovas are all suspended and unavailable for selection due to accumulated yellow cards.

Eslem Ozturk is sidelined with an ankle injury and is unlikely to feature again this season.

Alanyaspor possible starting lineup:

Taskiran; Hadergjonaj, Bayir, Aliti, Balkovec; Coelho, Novais; Aydin, Karaca, Ozdemir; Hassan

Istanbulspor possible starting lineup:

Arda; Sambissa, Coly, Deli, Duhaney, Yesil; Loshaj, Vorobjovas, Jackson; Mamadou, Gultekin

We say: Alanyaspor 1-1 Istanbulspor

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