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

Kayserispor were thumped 6-0 by league leaders Galatasaray on Friday, while Kasimpasa were beaten 5-0 by Adana Demirspor a day later.

Match preview

While Kayserispor were always huge underdogs to avoid defeat away to Turkey's strongest team this season, their manager Cagdas Atan would have been left frustrated by the nature of his side's collapse at NEF Stadyumu.

They fell 3-0 behind within the opening 42 minutes, with former Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi bagging a brace either side of former Norwich City forward Milot Rashica's strike, before Majid Hosseini's dismissal 10 minutes into first half injury-time left the visitors with little chance of mounting an already unlikely comeback.

Icardi immediately made the most of his team's one-man advantage by sealing his hat-trick on the stroke of half-time, with Kerem Akturkoglu and Nicolo Zaniolo adding gloss to the Super Eagles' victory after the break.

With a five-point gap ahead of eighth-placed Konyaspor with only eight games of both teams' league campaigns remaining, Kayserispor remain firmly in the hunt for matching their best ever finish - which is fifth on four separate occasions - in Turkey's top flight, so they will hope to get themselves back on track on Wednesday.

Kasimpasa, on the other hand, are not entirely safe from relegation just yet, with their 5-0 dismantling at the hands of European qualification hopefuls Adana Demirspor leaving them only five points clear of the dreaded drop zone.

Like their forthcoming opponets, Kasimpasa found themselves three goals down during the opening exchanges of their trip to Adana, with late strikes from Cherif Ndiaye and Younes Belhanda providing the hosts with a memorable victory as they remain on course for their strongest ever season in the Turkish Super Lig.

For Kasimpasa, avoiding relegation is their only meaningful goal between now and the end of the campaign, with Kemal Ozdes determined to guide Apaches across the line after being appointed as the club's manager for the third time earlier this year.

Having been defeated in six of their last seven away trips, though, the 52-year-old and his players may not have much confidence of returning from Kayseri with a positive result in midweek.

Kayserispor Turkish Super Lig form:

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L

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Kasimpasa Turkish Super Lig form:

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Team News

Kayserispor will be without Iran international Hosseini after his dismissal against Galatasaray, with Arif Kocaman likely to replace him at the heart of the hosts' defence.

Lionel Carole and Ali Karimi are expected to remain sidelined with muscle injuries, while Nurettin Korkmaz is unlikely to play again this season due to a ruptured knee ligament.

Kasimpasa, meanwhile, will travel without Ali Gholizadeh due to an ongoing meniscus injury, while Sadik Ciftpinar and Mickael Malsa both remain fitness concerns.

Ozdes could consider reintegrating Stephane Bahoken into his starting XI in order to provide a more natural focal point in attack, with Mickael Tirpan potentially sacrificed from the visitors' base of midfield.

Kayserispor possible starting lineup:

Bayazit; Uzodimma, Kocaman, Kolovetsios, Sazdagi; Kemen, Mensah; Bassan, Cardoso, Mane; Thiam

Kasimpasa possible starting lineup:

Guvenc; Fabiano, Serbest, Djilobodji, Ozcan; Hajradinovic, Eysseric; Eskihellac, Fall, Chouiar; Bahoken

We say: Kayserispor 2-1 Kasimpasa

Kayserispor should be able to compartmentalise their defeat to the high-flying Galatasaray last time out, and take confidence from the fact they have been enjoying a strong season by their standards.

Kasimpasa, meanwhile, should have enough about them to avoid relegation, but their away form has been wretched of late and we can envisage them falling to another defeat on the road on Wednesday.

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