Preview: Giresunspor vs. Kayserispor - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts, who have struggled with life in the top flight, are yet to taste victory so far and will be looking to end this dry spell and get their season up and running.

Match preview

The start to life in the Super Lig has not exactly gone as planned for newly-promoted Giresunspor, who fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Fenerbahce last Thursday.

The game was off to a flyer when Ferdi Kadioglu opened the scoring after just two minutes, but Souleymane Doukara pulled one back with five minutes remaining in the game after Mesut Ozil doubled the Yellow Canaries' lead shortly after the hour mark.

This was a far cry from the promising performance in their previous outing, where they pushed a rampant Konyaspor side to the limit before settling for a share of the spoils.

The loss last time out was a fifth in the first six games of the season for the newly-promoted side and they will need to make significant improvements at both ends of the pitch if they aim to avoid an immediate return to the second tier.

Hakan Keles's men have conceded eight goals and are yet to keep a clean sheet, while also boasting the worst attacking record of all 20 teams in the division as they have managed just one goal so far.

Kayserispor, on the other hand, returned to winning ways in style as they stunned Galatasaray to a 3-0 victory at the Kadir Has Stadium last Wednesday.

Despite seeing just 38% ball possession, Mame Thiam and Emrah Bassan scored in the final six minutes of the first half before Thiam completed the rout with his second strike of the game from the penalty spot eight minutes after the interval.

This followed a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Hatayspor, where second-half goals from Mame Biram Diouf and Ayoub El Kaabi helped Guneyin Yildizi come from one goal down to claim all three points at the Antakya Ataturk Stadi.

After failing to taste victory in their opening two games of the season, a run of three wins from their subsequent four outings has seen Hikmet Karaman's men rise to ninth place in the Super Lig table.

Awaiting Kayserispor is an opposing side who they are unbeaten against in each of the previous two meetings between the teams and the Anadolu Yildizi will feel confident of claiming the desired result and strengthening their position in the top half of the table.

Giresunspor Turkish Super Lig form:

Kayserispor Turkish Super Lig form:

Team News

Giresunspor will take to the pitch without the services of Brazilian defender Douglas, who was hauled off injured midway through the first half against Alanyaspor last Monday.

Tolgahan Acar has been ruled out since April's game against Adana Demirspor and the Turkish goalkeeper remains out of contention for this weekend's game.

Meanwhile, Karaman will be unable to call upon the services of 33-year-old midfielder Ugor Demirok, who sustained an injury against Basaksehir back in August.

He is joined on the Kayserispor treatment table by fellow midfielder Anthony Uzodimma, who is currently recuperating from a muscle injury he picked up a little over one month ago.

Mario Gavranovic recently completed a switch to the Turkish side but the former Schalke man is yet to make his debut as he continues his spell on the sidelines through a muscle problem.

With four-goal involvement in four appearances, Mame Thiam has been instrumental in Anadolu Yildizi's solid start to the season and the Senegalese international will be one to look out for on Sunday.

Giresunspor possible starting lineup:

Piri; Yavru; Diarra, Perez, Behich; Traore; Serginho, Pelupessy, Flavio, Diabate, Balde

Kayserispor possible starting lineup:

Lung; Bulut, Kolovetsios, Hosseini, Carole; Akdag, Attamah; Bassan, Cardoso, Thiam; Mensah

We say: Giresunspor 0-2 Kayserispor

After stumbling into the new season, Kayserispor appear to have hit their stride as they have put together a fine string of performances in recent weeks. Looking at the gulf in quality between the two sides, we predict the visitors will claim a comfortable win and heap more miseries on the misfiring hosts.