Preview: Fenerbahce vs. Konyaspor - prediction, team news, lineups

A draw last time out means Fener have slipped further back in the race for the title.

Match preview

The midweek set of fixtures on Turkey's top flight saw Fenerbahce face the tough task of travelling to face Adana Demirspor at their home fortress of the Yeni Adama Stadyumu.

In a topsy-turvy encounter which saw them have a goal chalked off for handball thanks to VAR and Altay Bayindir save a Demirspor penalty, two late goals saw the spoils shared as Fener dropped two more points.

In a frenetic finish to the game, Jorge Jesus' side fell behind with six minutes to go before Enner Valencia salvaged a point just moments later.

That halted a run of four straight wins but they have still lost just one of their last eight games, which just so happened to be against league leaders Galatasaray.

That late leveller was Valencia's 20th league goal of a phenomenal season for the Ecuadorian striker, as he already has more goals this season than he managed in the last two seasons combined for Fener.

Galatasaray's comeback win over Umraniyespor in the week means Fenerbahce are now six points off the pace going into the next set of fixtures.

Konyaspor may find it difficult though considering they have been on a dismal run of form which has seen them win just one of their last 13 games.

If current form continues they will quite easily end up being dragged into the relegation picture, despite sitting eighth, as the gap between them and the bottom four is just six points.

They are not particularly pretty on the eye either as bottom-placed Umraniyespor have scored more goals, but only Istanbul Basaksehir and Galatasaray have conceded fewer.

They may find it tougher to shut this Fenerbahce side out though, as the Istanbul-based outfit are the league's top scorers with an incredible 52 goals.

Despite the dreadful run of form, Konyaspor are still the best of the rest at the moment, sitting five points below Kayserispor who are a place above them.

They have picked up more points in fewer games on the road than they have at home, but they are yet to win any of their away games in 2023.

Fenerbahce Turkish Super Lig form:

W

L

W

W

W

D

Konyaspor Turkish Super Lig form:

D

D

L

L

L

L

Team News

Nazim Sangare is the only current absentee for Fenerbahce going into this one.

Joao Pedro is a doubt as the Italian edges closer to a return after picking up a knee injury during the World Cup break.

Miguel Crespo will return after serving a one-match suspension in their midweek outing at Adana Demirspor.

For Konyaspor, Bruno Paz will be banned after accumulating too many yellow cards while Muhammet Demir remains out with a shoulder injury.

Manager Aleksandar Stanojevic will have to adjust to life without Amir Hadziahmetovic after the Bosnian midfielder joined Besiktas this week.

Fenerbahce possible starting lineup:

Bayindir; Kadioglu, Akaydin, Szalai, Lincoln; Willian Arao, Zajc, Kahveci; Rossi, Batshuayi, Valencia

Konyaspor possible starting lineup:

Sehic; Oguz, Demirbag, Calvo, Guilherme Sitya; Dikmen, Ulgun, Cekici; Bytyqi, Diouf, Michalak

We say: Fenerbahce 3-0 Konyaspor

Konyaspor are on a woeful run having lost their last five games in all competitions, so Fenerbahce are not the calibre of opponents they would wish to face next.

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