Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Istanbulsporvs.Karagumruk

sportsmole.co.uk, 18 April 2024, 12:28
Two sides stuck in the relegation zone will face off on Saturday when Istanbulspor welcome Fatih Karagumruk to Bahcelievler Il Ozel Idare Stadium.

The visitors will be relegated if they fail to win this match, while the hosts are three points away from safety with seven games left to play.

Match preview

Istanbulspor ended their ten-match winless run with a thumping 3-0 victory over Hatayspor at Mersin Stadyumu.

The Bulls, who had not won since January 22, came alive in the second half thanks to goals from Florian Loshaj, Mendy Mamadou and Vefa Temel, in what was their first win with three goals scored all season.

Despite the win, Osman Zeki Korkmaz's side remain bottom of the Super Lig with 16 points, 17 adrift of safety with six games left but defeat on Saturday will confirm their relegation.

However, they will be looking to extend their top-flight status when they host another relegation-threatened side, Fatih Karagumruk, while also aiming for consecutive league wins for the first time this season.

They have lost their last three meetings against Saturday's opposition, failing to score and conceding five goals combined in those games. One of those games was a friendly while the other two were in the Super Lig, the last of which was a 3-0 loss in December.

Fatih Karagumruk's winless run stretched to seven games after a 2-1 defeat against Fenerbahce. They took the lead through Can Keles but were undone by second-half goals from Edin Dzeko and Michy Batshuayi.

With only 30 points from 32 games, Tolunay Kafkas's side languish in 18th place, three points from safety. With five defeats in their last seven matches, they appear out of form and look destined for the drop.

However, they will fancy their chances against the league's bottom club, but their away form is terrible. Karagumruk are the worst travellers in the league, picking up just six points from a possible 48.

Prior to this season, Kara Kirmizi had never finished below eighth place in three top-flight campaigns, but their Super Lig survival depends on snapping their winless run and picking up points quickly.

Istanbulspor Turkish Super Lig form:

L

D

L

L

L

W

Istanbulspor form (all competitions):

D

L

L

L

L

W

Fatih Karagumruk Turkish Super Lig form:

D

L

L

D

L

L

Fatih Karagumruk form (all competitions):

L

L

D

D

L

L

Team News

The hosts have a complete squad to choose from as there are no injuries or suspensions ahead of this clash.

Mamadou and Emir Gultekin are expected to remain in attack, with top scorer Loshaj, Modestas Vorobjovas, and Jackson playing in the midfield.

After keeping just his third clean sheet of the season last time out, Alp Arda will man the sticks once more, hoping for another great day at the office.

For the visitors, Ryan Mendes and Valentin Eysseric are suspended for this game after both of them were sent off in the defeat to Fenerbahce last time out.

Flavio Paoletti and Emre Mor are the two players expected to take their place in the XI on Saturday.

Istanbulspor possible starting lineup:

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

Fatih Karagumruk possible starting lineup:

Sirigu; Sangare, Biraschi, Dursun, Mercan; Rohden, Mor, Paoletti, Bertolacci, Keles; Yalcin

We say: Istanbulspor 2-1 Fatih Karagumruk

Previews by email

Top News

23 December 2024 talksport.com Big things were expected of Marko Mitrovic when he joined Chelsea as a 16-year-old in 2008. 23 December 2024 talksport.com talkSPORT has today announced that is has won radio rights to the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 coverage. 23 December 2024 talksport.com Boxing Day football is beloved by fans and one of the highlights of the Christmas schedule - but it can prove tricky for the players. 23 December 2024 talksport.com A handful of Premier League stars will be able to spend Christmas at home this year after receiving a Boxing Day ban. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea return to action on Boxing Day when they play host to local rivals Fulham at Stamford Bridge. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lisandro Martinez has claimed that Manchester United were "playing so well" before losing 3-0 to Bournemouth on Sunday. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has allegedly made a further two senior players available for transfer. 23 December 2024 talksport.com Arsenal have reportedly scouted Atalanta striker Mateo Retegui as an alternative transfer target to Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly discovered the asking price of Brighton & Hove Albion forward Joao Pedro. 23 December 2024 talksport.com Denis Suarez wasn't the player Arsenal fans wanted to sign - but he's the footballer supporters have a hard time in forgetting. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City will be aiming to avoid four straight defeats across all competitions when they welcome Everton to the Etihad in the Premier League on Boxing Day. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After spending Christmas Day in the bottom half of the Premier League table, Tottenham Hotspur endeavour to atone for recent failings when they travel to Nottingham Forest for a Boxing Day battle. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After celebrating Christmas Day at the top of the Premier League table, Liverpool get back to business on Boxing Day, when they welcome Leicester City to Anfield. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The January transfer window is almost here and clubs around the UK and Europe are lining up moves as they look to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Hatayspor vs. Adana Demirspor (Monday, 5.00pm) The battle of the bottom feeders in the Turkish Super Lig unfolds on Monday as Hatayspor host Adana Demirspor at the Mersin Stadyumu. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica vs. Estoril (Monday, 6.45pm) Separated by 10 places in the Primeira Liga table before gameweek 15, second-placed Benfica are clear favourites to outdo Estoril Praia at Estadio da Luz on Monday. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fiorentina vs. Udinese (Monday, 5.30pm) After their incredible success streak was finally brought to an end last week, Fiorentina will aim to start another winning run on Monday, when they meet Udinese. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Yemen and Saudi Arabia will celebrate Christmas Day by facing each other on matchday two of the Arabian Gulf Cup on Wednesday at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Yemen and Saudi Arabia will celebrate Christmas Day by facing each other on matchday two of the Arabian Gulf Cup on Wednesday at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk First place in Group B of the Arabian Gulf Cup will be at stake on Wednesday as Bahrain and Iraq celebrate Christmas Day at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United transfer target Randal Kolo Muani is very likely to leave Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window, according to reports. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly set their sights on West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus, with Pep Guardiola keen to strengthen his struggling squad. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly set to rival Arsenal for the signature of Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic in the summer of 2025. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The final Premier League gameweek before Christmas appropriately served up some crackers, including a festive feast of goals in North London, where Liverpool ran riot in an exhilarating 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Even when the pulse settled a little after this compellingspectacle it was still difficult to know quite where to start todissect this nine-goal thriller. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Ange Postecoglou cut an irritated figure as he claimed he's going to stop answering questions about Tottenham's tactics. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have supposedly expressed an interest in signing Borussia Dortmund attacker Julian Brandt next month. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's Mohamed Salah refused to give anything away when asked whether he could break Ian Rush's all-time goalscoring record after the Reds' remarkable 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's astonishing 6-3 Premier League win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday evening saw a multitude of records and achievements surpassed, as the Reds moved four points clear at the top of the table. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Ahli have reportedly emerged as the favourites to sign Marcus Rashford, with the Manchester United attacker widely expected to be on the move during the January transfer window.