Besiktasvs.Samsunspor

The hosts are winless in their last four matches while the visitors have failed to win in their last two matches.

Match preview

Besiktas failed to end their winless run, drawing 1-1 with Istanbul Basaksehir last time out. The Black Eagles took the lead through Omar Colley in the 16th minute, but conceded a 95th-minute equaliser from Emirhan Ilkhan.

Fernando Santos's side remain in fourth place with 47 points, but the gap to the teams below them has narrowed considerably. Any further slip-up could see them drop out of the Europa Conference League spot.

Besiktas won a friendly match against Istanbulspor last Saturday (2-1), and will be looking to carry that momentum into Saturday's game against Samsunspor. However, the Black Eagles lost in the last meeting between the two sides at Tupras Stadium, after winning the previous three encounters.

Santos's men are also at risk of failing to win in three consecutive home games, having lost their last two matches on home soil to Antalyaspor and Galatasaray.

Samsunspor are almost guaranteed another season in the Super Lig, barring a major collapse between now and the end of the season. The Red Lights sit in 12th position with 37 points, six points clear of 17th-placed Gaziantep.

However, their inconsistency this season has limited their chances of competing for European places. This is evident in their recent form, having won just two of their last five matches. Their last outing was a goalless draw at home to relegation-threatened Pendikspor.

Following the dismissal of Fuat Capa in early October, Markus Gisdol has taken charge at Samsunspor, guiding the newly-promoted side through the season's challenges and boasting a win rate of 44.44% so far.

Samsunspor's biggest issue this season has been their away form. Gisdol's side are the third-worst team on the road, collecting just seven points from 15 Super Lig away games. They have only won one of those games, losing 10.

The Red Lights will need to dig deep to record consecutive wins at Tupras Stadium for the first time in their history. So far, they have only managed four wins in 22 visits to Besiktas.

Besiktas Turkish Super Lig form:

W

W

L

L

L

D

Besiktas form (all competitions):

L

L

W

D

D

W

Samsunspor Turkish Super Lig form:

D

W

L

W

L

D

Team News

Besiktas will be without Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ante Rebic and Arthur Masuaku, who are all sidelined with varying degree of injuries.

Salih Ucan, Tayfur Bingol and Yakup Arda Kilic are all doubtful and will have to pass late fitness tests to feature on Saturday.

Cenk Tosun should start in attack once again, while Ernest Muci plays in the supporting role.

Samsunspor will be without Lubomir Satka for the remainder of the season due to an ankle injury, making him the only absentee for this match.

The Red Lightning should retain the partnership of Dutchman Alim Ozturk and his compatriot Rick van Drongelen at centre-back on Saturday.

Besiktas possible starting lineup:

Gunok; Svensson, Colley, Worrall, Terzi; Fernandes, Amartey; Rashica, Muci, Kilicsoy; Tosun

Samsunspor possible starting lineup:

Kocuk; Yavru, Van Drongelen, Ozturk, Gonul; Bennasser, Antalyali; Holse, Ntcham, Dimatta; Raman

We say: Besiktas 1-0 Samsunspor

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