Preview: Altay vs. Besiktas - prediction, team news, lineups

Altay have amassed 12 points from their opening six fixtures, while their opponents are still unbeaten in the league having won four and drawn twice this term.

Match preview

Altay are featuring in a Super Lig season for the first time since 2002-03 and they are enjoying their return to the top flight, having won four of their opening six matches.

They impressed early on in the campaign, by picking up comfortable victories over Kayserispor and Alanyaspor in their opening two fixtures, but they then suffered two successive defeats to Fenerbahce and Konyaspor.

Those losses did not derail the newly-promoted side though, as they responded with a 2-1 victory over Goztepe and then on Tuesday goals from Eric Bjorkander and Daouda Bamba ensured Altay won 2-1 against Rizespor.

That was Bamba's third goal of the season, but Altay have not had to rely solely on their new striker, as they have managed to grab 12 goals so far this term, and their attacking quality has been a large factor in their promising start.

Friday's hosts will aim to carry that form into this encounter, as they try to beat Besiktas for the first time since February 1998.

Likewise, Besiktas have also started the season in fine form, and are yet to taste defeat in the Super Lig having collected 14 points from their six league encounters.

Friday's visitors picked up four points from their first two league games, winning 3-0 at home to Rizespor before playing out a goalless draw against Gaziantep.

Then Besiktas really hit their stride, winning three consecutive league games against Fatih Karagumruk, Yeni Malatyaspor and Antalyaspor, scoring seven times in that period and only conceding twice.

However, in their last two fixtures, Sergen Yalcin's men have been shaky defensively due to injury absentees and that was evident in their last league match when they squandered a 3-0 lead.

On Tuesday, they seemed to have wrapped up their encounter with Adana Demirspor by the 52nd minute, after Javi Montero, Josef De Souza and Ridvan Yilmaz had put Besiktas three goals up, but their opponents scored twice in the 60th and 79th minute - with Matias Vargas and Mario Balotelli grabbing the goals - and Britt Assombalonga completed an incredible comeback in the seventh minute of stoppage time to ensure the spoils were shared.

Altay Turkish Super Lig form:

Besiktas Turkish Super Lig form:

Besiktas form (all competitions):

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Team News

Altay are still likely to be without the services of Chilean midfielder Cesar Pinares, who has missed the last two games through injury.

Mustafa Denizli also has Ahmed Yasser Rayan still unavailable and the Altay boss will also have to replace midfielder Iyane Thiam Khaly, who was sent off on Tuesday.

Serge Aka and Ceyhun Gulselam are both options to come into the centre of midfield for Friday's game.

Besiktas have numerous injury concerns which include defenders Umut Meras and Domagoj Vida.

Yalcin also has to contend with injuries to Alex Teixeira and Mehmet Topal, who are both unavailable with thigh problems.

Additionally, Necip Uysal and Georges-Kevin N'Koudou are also absent and Valentin Rosier was sent off last time out so Atiba Hutchinson may come into the right-back berth.

Altay possible starting lineup:

Lis; Karayel, Bjorkander, Akca, Naderi; Kappel, Yildirim, Aka, Thaciano, Celenk; Bamba

Besiktas possible starting lineup:

Destanoglu; Hutchinson, Montero, Welinton, Yilmaz; Ghezzal, Pjanic, Josef, Ozyakup, Larin; Batshuayi

We say: Altay 2-3 Besiktas

This contest features two teams who score at will, so there is likely to be a feast of goals on Friday, and Altay may cause their opponents problems, but with the quality Besiktas possess in their ranks, they should get the three points here to continue their unbeaten start to the league season.