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

The hosts sit 18th in the table but are just a point from safety, while the visitors are two points clear of the relegation zone.

Match preview

Karagumruk's fortunes appeared to be changing during the month of February, as they lost just one of the six games they played across the Super Lig and Turkiye Kupasi.

However, back-to-back losses in their previous two outings have seen Karagumruk drop back into the relegation zone with just nine games left to play.

The upcoming match against Konyaspor will be new manager Tolunay Kafkas's first in the dugout, making him the third man to take charge of Karagumruk this season.

Alparslan Erdem led the team in the first 15 games of the season with Shota Arveladze then taking charge upon his sacking for the following 14, and Kafkas now steps into the role and will have just four days to prepare his side for this match after being hired on March 10.

Karagumruk will be able to take solace from the fact that they are the home side in this game, having picked up a majority of their points at the Vefa Stadi this season.

Of the 14 games they have played at home they have won six, drawn five and lost just three, with the most recent of those defeats at the Vefa Stadi coming during the Christmas period, a 3-0 reverse against Gaziantep.

Konyaspor also come into this game with their third manager of the season as Fahrudin Omerovic looks to continue his positive impact since following on from Hakan Keles and Aleksandar Stanojevic.

Despite initially starting the season well under Stanojevic, Konyaspor quickly plummeted down the table as they embarked on an eight-game winless run in the league that spanned across September, October, and November.

Keles took over during this run but was unable to create much of an impact as Konyaspor soon found themselves inhabiting a spot in the relegation zone.

Omerovic was then brought in during January, and the Bosnian has so far had a positive influence on his side, leading them to five wins from 12 games, losing just three in this time, and overseeing Konyaspor's climb out of the relegation zone and into 14th place.

The Anatolian Eagle will need to pick up an elusive away win if they are to distance themselves from the bottom four on Friday, having managed just two victories on the road this campaign.

After finishing level on 51 points in seventh and eighth place respectively last season, both sides will be disappointed with how their league campaigns have gone this time around.

Their targets are now to retain their position in the top flight next term, and a win here could be vital for both sides.

Fatih Karagumruk Turkish Super Lig form:

L

W

D

D

L

L

Fatih Karagumruk form (all competitions):

Konyaspor Turkish Super Lig form:

D

W

L

W

W

D

Konyaspor form (all competitions):

Team News

Fatih Karagumruk will only be without one player in this game as Federico Ceccherini remains suspended following his dismissal against Adana Demirspor.

The hosts will be strengthened by the return of Ryan Mendes, Valentin Eysseric and Salih Dursun, who all served their suspension in the previous outing.

As for Konyaspor, they are likely to be missing up to three players for this match.

Adil Demirbag and Cebrail Karayel remain out with injuries and are unlikely to return until early April.

Ogulcan Ulgun was taken off with an injury in Konyaspor's draw against Adana Demirspor but is expected to be fine for this match.

Fatih Karagumruk possible starting lineup:

Sirigu; Veseli, Biraschi, Dursun, Mercan; Feghouli, Kourbelis; Mor, Eysseric, Keles; Marcao

Konyaspor possible starting lineup:

Slowik; Yazgli, Damjanovic, Hadebe, Sitya; N'Zonzi; Ndao, Dikmen, Malli, Ethemi; Cikalleshi

We say: Fatih Karagumruk 2-1 Konyaspor

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