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

Occupying second place in the table, the Yellow Canaries sit five points behind their bitter rivals, while Trabzonspor find themselves seventh - 20 points shy of Fener.

Match preview

Fenerbahce have not given up hope of claiming their first Super Lig title since 2013-14, as they remain within touching distance of Galatasaray ahead of the final few matches of the season.

When the league leaders notched a colossal 14-game winning streak between October and March - defeating Fenerbahce 3-0 at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in January - the title race appeared to be over.

However, Jorge Jesus's men have suffered a solitary defeat in 14 Super Lig outings since losing to Galatasaray, picking up 10 wins along the way, with 12 victories coming in their previous 17 league matches.

Although the Yellow Canaries have drawn three of their last four games across all competitions - including a goalless draw in the first leg of their Turkish Cup semi-final showdown with Sivasspor - they enter Thursday's clash on an eight-match unbeaten run.

On top of that, Fener are the Super Lig's top scorers this season, having netted 76 goals in 31 games, while in-form striker Enner Valencia has racked up 27 goals in 28 league appearances, notching six braces, one hat-trick and a four-goal haul for good measure.

It is worth remembering that Trabzonspor finished eight points clear of second-placed Fenerbahce to clinch the Super Lig title last season, suffering just three defeats in 38 matches to end their 38-year title drought.

Fast forward to the present day, however, and the reigning champions find themselves 25 points shy of table-topping Galatasaray after losing 11 of their 31 games this term, with four defeats coming in their previous six outings.

The Black Sea Storm ended a five-match winless run with a 2-0 victory over Ankaragucu last time out, with Umut Bozok bagging a brace following a 10th-minute red card for Ankaragucu defender Stelios Kitsiou.

Still, there is no hiding the fact that Trabzonspor have endured a torrid time on the road of late, losing seven of their previous eight away league games while collecting an awarded win over Gaziantep back in March.

Excluding that victory, Nenad Bjelica's men have failed to win any of their last nine away encounters in the Super Lig, letting in 24 goals in the process, so they look destined to concede against free-scoring Fenerbahce.

Fenerbahce Turkish Super Lig form:

W

W

W

D

W

D

Fenerbahce form (all competitions):

W

W

D

W

D

D

Trabzonspor Turkish Super Lig form:

L

L

D

L

L

W

Team News

Fenerbahce are still without injured midfielder Lincoln and goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, so Irfan Can Egribayat will continue between the sticks for the hosts.

Top scorer Enner Valencia will be joined in attack by Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi, who returned from injury last time out to net his 11th goal in 16 league outings this season.

Uruguayan playmaker Diego Rossi looks set to continue at left wing, with teenage prodigy Arda Guler operating on the opposite flank, leaving Mert Hakan Yandas and Ismail Yuksek to anchor the midfield.

As for Trabzonspor, Abdulkadir Parmak and Dorukhan Tokoz remain sidelined with knee injuries, while Stefano Denswil and Manolis Siopis will also miss Thursday's clash due to injury.

Former Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund defender Marc Bartra is expected to join Huseyin Turkmen and Eren Elmali in the visitors' backline, with veteran midfielder Marek Hamsik operating in the engine room.

After scoring twice last time out, Umut Bozok will be joined in attack by Uruguayan forward Maxi Gomez, who has chalked up seven goals and six assists in all competitions this term.

Fenerbahce possible starting lineup:

Egribayat; Kadioglu, Akaydin, Szalai, Peres; Guler, Yuksek, Yandas, Rossi; Valencia, Batshuayi

Trabzonspor possible starting lineup:

Cakir; Bartra, Turkmen, Elmali; Haspolat; Larsen, Bosluk, Bardhi, Hamsik; Gomez, Bozok

We say: Fenerbahce 3-1 Trabzonspor

While Fenerbahce have won 10 of their 15 home league games this season - scoring at least two goals on 11 occasions - Trabzonspor have lost nine of their 15 away matches.

Previews by email