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

The home side are two places higher than Kayserispor as the table stands, due to their goal difference being superior, having scored nine and conceded three goals so far.

Match preview

Omer Erdogan's side were winless after the first two games of this campaign, but the team have started to build confidence with two victories on the bounce heading into this match.

Last time out, Hatayspor travelled to the Caykur Didi Stadyumu to face Rizespor, who have only picked up one point in their first four games, and the visitors left it late to secure three points.

Hatayspor dominated the game and registered 10 shots on target, but it was not until the 80th minute when former Stoke City striker Mame Biram Diouf broke the deadlock, just before Ayoub El Kaabi netted his second goal in as many games to seal the 2-0 win.

Courtesy of defeating Alanyaspor 5-0 prior to their last outing, Hatayspor are the second-top scorers in the Turkish Super Lig, and winger Saba Lobzhanidze is joint-second on the goalscoring chart.

One reason why the team have been prolific in front of goal so far this campaign, is the fact that they have averaged 6 shots on target per match, a higher stat than Turkish giants Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.

Kayserispor have not been as efficient on the goalscoring front, but they have recorded the same amount of points as their hosts on Sunday, and also come into this game with two consecutive wins under their belt.

On Saturday, Hikmet Karaman's side welcomed Kasimpasa to the Kadir Has Sehir Stadi, and that was a match of few chances, but the home team did enough to earn the three points.

Bernard Mensah scored his first goal of this season, after spending last year on loan to Besiktas, and Miguel Cardoso finished the game deep into stoppage time, winning the game by a scoreline of 2-0 for the hosts.

The last meeting between these two sides last season produced a shock result as Kayserispor travelled to Hatayspor and came away with a 3-1 triumph, despite the home side going on to finish 11 places above Kayserispor.

Hatayspor Turkish Super Lig form:

Kayserispor Turkish Super Lig form:

Team News

Hatayspor midfielder Simon Falette was forced off after 15 minutes during his side's 5-0 victory against Alanyaspor due to injury, and he was absent from the matchday squad for their last outing.

After another good result against Rizespor, Erdogan may decide to start with the same 11, which would see Adama Traore operating in a midfield role just behind Diouf, who will lead the line for the home side.

Goalkeeper Munir has picked up two clean sheets on the bounce and he will be keen to continue that form, with help from his back four which will include, Sam Adekugbe, Burak Oksuz, Fatih Kurucuk and Kamil Corekci.

Kayserispor's Anthony Uzodimma and Majid Hosseini picked up injuries during the first two games of this season, and they will be absent from Sunday's team as they continue their recoveries.

Attacker Mario Gavranovic was an unused substitute in his first two games for his new club after arriving from Dinamo Zagreb in August, but he has since picked up a muscle injury which will rule him out of this weekend's game.

Karaman is expected to line his side up in a 4-4-1-1 formation, and Mame Thiam is likely to lead the line after scoring and assisting one goal in each of his last two appearances.

Hatayspor possible starting lineup:

Munir; Adekugbe, Oksuz, Kurucuk, Corekci; Ribeiro, Ergun; Kaabi, Traore, Kamara; Diouf

Kayserispor possible starting lineup:

Lung Jr; Carole, Subasi, Kolovetsios, Civelek; Sazdagi, Attamah, Bassan, Akdag; Mensah; Thiam

We say: Hatayspor 2-1 Kayserispor

The two sides have been evenly matched so far this season in terms of how many points they have managed to pick up from their first four games, suggesting that Sunday's encounter will be close to call.

However, after putting five past Alanyaspor the last time Hatayspor played at home, confidence will be high which could give them the edge this weekend.