Preview: Hatayspor vs. Alanyaspor - prediction, team news, lineups

The home side head into the contest in the relegation zone, while Alanyaspor currently occupy 11th place despite winning only one of their previous five Turkish Super Lig games.

Match preview

After beginning the season with one point from six games, Serkan Ozbalta resigned from his position as Hatayspor boss after overseeing a demoralising 4-0 defeat to Kayserispor.

Volkan Demirel was the man chosen to replace Ozbalta, and the former Fatih Karagumruk manager could not have wished for a better start to his tenure as he oversaw the club's first win of the season against Sivasspor last weekend.

Ayoub El Kaabi and Bertug Yildirim grabbed a goal apiece in the opening 20 minutes, and although Erdogan Yesilyurt found a response within three minutes, Sivasspor could not find an equaliser.

Despite claiming a crucial 2-1 victory, Hatayspor are two points adrift of safety, with Demirel aware he still has a lot of work to do if his side are to avoid a relegation battle.

Demirel's next objective will be to guide Sunday's hosts to their first home win of the campaign, and the new boss will be pointing to last season's 5-0 home win over Alanyaspor for inspiration.

Meanwhile, Alanyaspor began the season with a three-game unbeaten run, but they have only managed to win one of their last five games.

Consecutive defeats was followed by a 2-1 win over Ankaragucu, but Alanyaspor have failed to build upon that victory, with their previous two games yielding one point.

After being thrashed 5-0 by Fenerbahce, Francesco Farioli's side required an 81st-minute equaliser from Jure Balkovec to hold Giresunspor to a 1-1 draw last weekend.

Although Alanyaspor have endured a poor run of results, they are still four points above the relegation zone, but after finishing in fifth place last season, their main objective will be to move into the top half of the Turkish Super Lig table.

If they are to climb up their standings then Alanyaspor need to improve away from home after losing their last two away games by a combined 7-0 scoreline.

Hatayspor Turkish Super Lig form:

L

L

D

L

L

W

Alanyaspor Turkish Super Lig form:

D

L

L

W

L

D

Team News

The hosts are without the services of Kevin Soni and Christian Atsu due to injury issues, while Ruben Ribeiro is suspended for Sunday's contest.

After being sent off last weekend, Ribeiro is expected to be replaced by Rayane Aabid, who will feature alongside Mehdi Boudjemaa and Onur Ergun in midfield.

Yildirim and El Kaabi are set to continue in the frontline after scoring against Sivasspor, and they will be joined by Saba Lobjanidze in the front three.

As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon Ivan Cavaleiro, Yusuf Ozdemir and Erencan Yardimci, who are all sidelined with injuries.

Famara Diedhiou is a doubt for Sunday's encounter, while Leroy Fer will serve a one-match suspension due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

Meanwhile, Oguz Aydin, Daniel Candeias and Efkan Bekiroglu all featured as substitutes last weekend, and the trio could be brought into the starting lineup for the meeting with Hatayspor.

Hatayspor possible starting lineup:

Kardesler; Alici, Vranjes, Oksuz, Kanak; Boudjemaa, Aabid, Ergun; El Kaabi, Lobjanidze, Yildirim

Alanyaspor possible starting lineup:

Runarsson; Aksoy, Bayir, Balkovec; Pereira, Gunes, Bekiroglu, Aydin; Candeias, Karaca; Koka

We say: Hatayspor 2-1 Alanyaspor

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