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

Despite both being in the bottom half, the two clubs are among the highest in the current form standings.

Match preview

Giresunspor's recent upturn in fortunes have aided their move away from trouble.

Picking up 10 points from their previous five league matches is the second-best in the division, with only league leaders Galatasaray winning more in that time.

They have successfully made their home ground a fortress of late too, having won four of their last six at home in all competitions, with a freak 5-0 loss to third-tier Karacabey Belediyespor the only defeat in those six.

Not too much is being read into their 3-0 loss at champions Trabzonspor in midweek, given the quality of the opposition, but they will expect to return to winning ways here.

There is a slight concern about the potency of the side, and their inability to spread goals around the team, as Riad Bajic and Borja Sainz have scored more than half of their goals between them.

Only Hatayspor and Istanbulspor have scored fewer, so maintaining decent defensive foundations will be important here too.

Umraniyespor needed a reaction after being cut adrift at the bottom with the World Cup break approaching.

Form improved as the league came to a temporary stop, and they have picked up where they left off since the Super Lig's return.

They may have lost 3-1 to Istanbul Basaksehir in their first league fixture back, but they were well in the game until a 93rd-minute strike finished them off.

They took encouragement from that performance and followed it up by beating Ankaragucu before drawing with Hatayspor, where they needed to hang on for the final 15 minutes with 10 men.

After trailing in both games, manager Recep Ucar can take pride in his side for not knowing when they are beaten, and that has helped them claw back towards safety by moving off the bottom of the table.

They are still five points from safety, tied with an Istanbulspor side who have now fallen below them in the table after some bruising defeats, but Umraniyespor have picked up eight points from a possible 15 - a superb accomplishment considering they had just three points after 11 games.

Despite winning promotion, Giresunspor lost both fixtures against Umraniyespor in the 1.Lig back in 2020-21 - the last two competitive meetings between the sides.

Giresunspor Turkish Super Lig form:

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W

W

D

W

L

Giresunspor form (all competitions):

W

W

L

D

W

L

Umraniyespor Turkish Super Lig form:

L

W

D

L

W

D

Team News

Sergen Picinciol will miss out again for Giresunspor as he has not featured since their shock win at Fenerbahce just before the mid-season break.

Azeri midfielder Murat Akpinar will also be unavailable as he will serve a one-match suspension following a fourth booking of the season against Trabzonspor.

However, Sainz will return from his ban and should start in attack along with Bajic.

Allyson was the man who was sent off in their draw with Hatayspor, so the defender will be suspended here.

Midfielder Kartal Yilmaz could be the one to come in and replace him, with Isaac Sackey moving into a defensive position in Allyson's absence.

Geraldo will return from suspension and could take the place of Valentin Gheorghe in the starting lineup.

Giresunspor possible starting lineup:

Piri; Bilazer, Arias, Perez, Uludag; Campuzano, Mejia, Sainz, Serginho; Bajic, Kuwas

Umraniyespor possible starting lineup:

Kirintili; Popov, Sackey, Glumac, Atasayar; Gurbulak, Yilmaz, Avounou; Geraldo, Nayir, Del Valle

We say: Giresunspor 1-1 Umraniyespor

Both sides are in-form and are making moves up the table, so this will be a very intriguing clash.

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