Preview: Gaziantep vs. Umraniyespor - prediction, team news, lineups

The home side head into the weekend off the back of suffering their first defeat of the season and will be looking to quickly return to winning ways.

Match preview

Gaziantep were sent crashing down to earth in the Super Lig as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against 10-man Galatasaray when the sides squared off at the NEF Stadyumu last Monday.

In a game where Abdulkerim Bardakci received his marching orders, Bafetimbi Gomis scored in the 36th minute to cancel out Angelo Sagal's opener, before Stelios Kitsiou scored a 91st-minute own goal to hand the hosts all three points.

Prior to that, Erol Bulut's men kicked off their season with a 1-1 draw at Sivasspor in their league curtain-raiser on August 6 before claiming three wins from their subsequent three games.

With 10 points from their first five games, the Sahinler are currently fifth in the Super Lig standings, but could move level on points with league leaders Besiktas with all three points this weekend.

Gaziantep have now returned to their home turf where they are currently on a three-game winning streak in the league and are unbeaten in nine consecutive games, claiming four wins and five draws, since February's 3-0 loss against Adana Demirspor.

Elsewhere, newly-promoted Umraniyespor were left empty handed once again as they were on the receding end of another 1-0 defeat when they squared off against Trabzonspor last Friday.

In a cagey affair at the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium, former Aston Villa forward Trezeguet scored the only goal of the game on the hour mark to hand the visitors their third win of the season.

Recep Ucar's men have now lost each of their most recent four games, conceding four goals and failing to find the target since a thrilling 3-3 draw against Fenerbahce in their season opener on August 8.

Umraniyespor, who are currently 18th in the Super Lig standings, head into the weekend winless in five consecutive games against Saturday's hosts, losing three and claiming two draws since a 2-1 victory in December 2016.

Gaziantep Turkish Super Lig form:

Gaziantep form (all competitions):

Umraniyespor Turkish Super Lig form:

Umraniyespor form (all competitions):

Team News

Following a resilient display last time out, Bulut could name a similar starting side on Saturday, meaning we could see a centre back pairing of Ertugrul Ersoy and former Chelsea man Papy Djilobodji once again.

Alexandru Maxim and Sagal combined for the equaliser against Galatasaray and the duo should retain their roles at the centre of the park, alongside Trabzonspor loanee Abdulkadir Parmak.

Joao Figueiredo has been a standout performer for Gaziantep this season, and the Brazilian forward, who has four goals to his name this season, should spearhead the attack once again.

Meanwhile, first-choice goalkeeper Serkan Kirintili had to be replaced shortly after the hour mark against Trabzonspor last time out and the 37-year-old is a major doubt for the visiting side.

Should he fail to shake off his injury, former Serik Belediyespor goalkeeper Orkun Ozdemir will be thrown into the fray for what will be his first starting appearance for Umraniyespor since May.

Gaziantep possible starting lineup:

Guvenc; Kitsiou, Ersoy, Djilobodji, Hanousek; Jevtovic; Eskihellac, Parmak, Maxim, Sagal; Figueiredo

Umraniyespor possible starting lineup:

Ozdemir; Goksu, Dos Santos, Glumac, Lenjani; Sackey, Yilmaz; Ayik, Gurbulak, Gheorghe; Nayir

We say: Gaziantep 1-0 Umraniyespor

Gaziantep will be backing themselves to come away with the desired results this weekend as they face an out-of-sorts Umraniyespor side who have struggled to settle in the big leagues. Looking at the gulf in quality and experience between the sides, and their contrasting form, we anticipate the hosts will pick up all three points in this one.

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