Preview: Istanbulspor vs. Sivasspor - prediction, team news, lineups

This encounter can perfectly be described as a relegation six-pointer, with both sides well in the fight at the bottom.

Match preview

Having not played a competitive fixture in well over a month, Istanbulspor return to action with a must-win home fixture against a direct rival.

It is unclear whether they will be able to pick up where they left off before football in Turkey was halted following the devastating earthquake in the country.

Back-to-back victories against Konyaspor and Alanyaspor not only pulled Istanbulspor off the bottom of the pile, but brought those two sides into the picture as well.

With two games in hand on Giresunspor who sit just outside the relegation zone, making up the two-point deficit from them is well within Istanbulspor's capabilities.

Manager Fatih Tekke will have to hope his side were not too disheartened by a 6-0 friendly defeat to Galatasaray last weekend though, played because both sides were not in Super Lig action.

Sivasspor meanwhile, are much more up to speed with competitive action, having resumed their league season last weekend as well as travelling to Italy to face Fiorentina midweek in the Europa Conference League.

The current Turkish Cup holders are still alive in two cup competitions, but the threat of relegation still looms large.

A 1-0 defeat in Florence during the week means they still have a great chance of progression when the sides reconvene in Sivas next Thursday.

The recent tragic events in Turkey also meant their domestic cup opponents Gaziantep had to withdraw from all matches for the rest of the season, giving them a bye into the semi-finals.

With all that to come though, Sivasspor must ensure they do not have one eye on other competitions ahead of this clash, given that it is against one of their big relegation rivals.

Two injury-time goals papered over the cracks of what was a disappointing display in losing 4-3 at Fatih Karagumruk last weekend.

That result leaves them just one point above the drop zone having played a game more than three of the sides below them.

Like Istanbulspor, Sivasspor were also in fantastic form before the season was halted, winning three of their previous four games, but two defeats in a week may well have eradicated the confidence they would have gained.

Istanbulspor Turkish Super Lig form:

D

W

L

L

W

W

Sivasspor Turkish Super Lig form:

L

W

L

W

W

L

Sivasspor form (all competitions):

W

L

W

W

L

L

Team News

Istanbulspor have many new players to choose from, all signed since their last domestic outing against Alanyaspor in the first week of February.

The club have signed four players on loan from clubs who have had to forfeit the season following the earthquake.

Two of the players who have arrived, Ertugrul Ersoy from Gaziantep and former player Onur Ergun from Hatayspor, could come straight into the side, having been regulars at their parent clubs for the majority of the season.

Sivasspor's injury worries all consist of players battling with knee issues currently.

Striker Mustafa Yatabare has been missing since scoring twice away at Alanyaspor last month, while Caner Osmanpasa and Robin Yalcin both returned to the setup injured after the league was stopped.

Max Gradel was sent off late on in Florence, but is still available domestically before serving his ban in midweek.

Istanbulspor possible starting lineup:

Jensen; Duhaney, Erdogan, Yesil, Aksu; Ergun, Sarikaya, Rroca; Eyenga-Lokilo, Gultekin, Ethemi

Sivasspor possible starting lineup:

Vural; Yesilyurt, Appidangoye, Goutas, Ciftci; Arslan, Cofie, Charisis; Samu Saiz, Caicedo, Gradel

We say: Istanbulspor 2-2 Sivasspor

Both sides may be scared of losing the game, but Istanbulspor should aim to be more front-footed in this one, even if it is unclear how they may cope with the lack of match practice.

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