Preview: Fatih Karagumruk vs. Konyaspor - prediction, team news, lineups

The home side are now up to 10th place, while their opponents are seventh, after drawing their most recent match.

Match preview

Karagumruk have been one of the most exciting teams to watch in Turkey this season, with their games regularly being high-scoring affairs, under the helm of Andrea Pirlo, who has tried to implement an attacking brand of football.

This style has had varied success, as despite being in tenth place, the side from Istanbul are only three points clear of the relegation zone, only recently putting some breathing room between themselves and the bottom four.

The Black Red are the second-highest scoring team in the league, with 33 goals in their first 16 matches, averaging more than two a game, but their defence has also been breached on 32 occasions, and they have the worst record at the back outside of the relegation zone.

Since returning after the break for the World Cup, Karagumruk have won two of their three matches, looking particularly impressive in a 4-1 victory against reigning champions Trabzonspor, and they managed to net four again last time out.

Pirlo's side raced into a 2-0 lead inside the opening 12 minutes against Kayserispor, and emerged as 4-2 victors in yet another end-to-end game, securing just their second win on their travels in the league this season.

Konyaspor manager Ilhan Palut sets his team up very differently to Karagumruk, as indicated by them boasting the joint-best defensive record in the league, conceding just 13 goals in their 16 matches up to this point.

While they have managed to keep it tight at the back, the Green and Whites have only scored 20 in 16 games, the lowest amount of any side in the top 10, and their lack of goals is the main reason they are not closer to the top three, currently five points off.

Palut's side have also drawn far too many games, sharing the spoils in half of their matches so far, however it is, at least, a positve sign that they are hard to beat, only losing twice in the league all season.

The Green and Whites' two most recent games have finished 2-2, showing improve signs, in an attacking sense at least, as prior to December, they had only scored more than one goal in a game on three occasions.

Last time out, Konyaspor twice took the lead against Sivasspor, with Muhammet Demir and Amir Hadziahmetovic getting on the scoresheet, so Palut will be disappointed that his side could not secure three points against a side currently in the relegation zone.

Fatih Karagumruk Turkish Super Lig form:

L

L

D

L

W

W

Fatih Karagumruk form (all competitions):

Konyaspor Turkish Super Lig form:

D

D

D

W

D

D

Konyaspor form (all competitions):

Team News

Emir Tintis sustained an injury during the World Cup break, and is not expected back until the end of the month, so Ibrahim Dresevic and Rayyan Baniya are poised to continue at centre-back for Karagumruk.

Moving into the midfield, Efecan Mizrakci misses out due to an ankle injury, with the 18-year-old not set to return until early February, while Efe Tatli will also not be available as a result of a knee problem.

Fabio Borini has nine goals and six assists in 15 Turkish Super Lig appearances this season, so he is a sure-fire starter on the right of attack, playing slightly deeper than striker Mbaye Diagne, who also has nine goals to his name.

Konyaspor have no injury concerns to deal with, but Soner Dikmen could be chosen ahead of Bruno Paz in the starting lineup, having been brought on to replace him at half-time last time out.

Given that Uche Ikpeazu is yet to score in 11 Turkish Super Lig outings, Mame Biram Diouf and Muhammet Demir should continue to lead the line, playing in what is likely to be a 4-4-2 system.

Fatih Karagumruk possible starting lineup:

Sen; Biraschi, Dresevic, Baniya, Mercan; Shukurov, Ozdoev, Kouassi, Ricci, Borini; Diagne

Konyaspor possible starting lineup:

Erenturk; Oguz, Demirbag, Calvo, Haubert; Michalak, Hadziahmetovic, Dikmen, Amilton; Demir, Diouf

We say: Fatih Karagumruk 2-2 Konyaspor

Games involving Karagumruk are almost guaranteed to have goals, and we expect this one to be no different, with both teams getting on the scoresheet.

The Black Red have started well since the World Cup, but given that Konyaspor are three places higher than them in the table, the spoils may be shared.

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