Preview: Konyaspor vs. Antalyaspor - prediction, team news, lineups

However, the visitors have lost just once in their last 11 league games to move up to seventh in the table.

Match preview

Having completed their 10th consecutive season competing in Turkey's top flight when respectably finishing eighth last season, Konyaspor would not have expected to be involved in a relegation battle this time around.

Since gaining promotion in 2013, the Anatolian Eagles have finished in the top half on six occasions, with their lowest finish being when ending up in 15th place in the 2017-18 campaign. They survive by only three points in that season, and they would almost certainly take a repeat of that in a few months time having made a slow start to the current campaign.

It was little surprise to see the club sack Hakan Keles after less than three months in charge following their humiliating 7-1 defeat to Fenerbahce last week. Fahrudin Omerovic has been selected as his replacement, with the 62-year-old set to embark on his first ever managerial role after spending several years in Turkey as a player and a coach.

Sunday's test against Antalyaspor will be his first league game in charge, after Konyaspor defeated Goztepe 2-1 in the Turkish Cup on Thursday. Omerovic will know the importance of maintaining his winning start in charge given his side's perilous position in the table.

Antalyaspor, on the other hand, have minimal pressure on their shoulders having made a strong start to the season. Their 1-1 draw against Trabzonspor last weekend made it five wins and five draws from their last 11 league fixtures, meaning they are in the hunt for a European qualification spot.

Like their forthcoming opponents, Antalyaspor have enjoyed an extended stay in the Turkish Super Lig, with this being their ninth successive campaign at this level. They failed to impress when finishing 13th last season, though, ultimately surviving relegation by a solitary point on the final matchday.

Former Besiktas boss Sergen Yalcin, who also managed Konyaspor in 2018, has made a decent start to life as the club's new manager with two wins and two draws from his opening four games in charge. Goals from Ufuk Akyol and Sander van de Streek secured their progression in the Turkish Cup against Pendikspor on Wednesday.

However, Yalcin and his players will be keen to finish as high in the league table as possible, with the club's best ever effort being when coming fifth in 2016-17. Returning to winning ways against their struggling opponents on Sunday would certainly improve belief of achieving a similar finish.

Konyaspor Turkish Super Lig form:

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Antalyaspor Turkish Super Lig form:

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Team News

Konyaspor are likely to remain without Gokhan Tore and Muhammet Demir due to ankle and knee injuries respectively, while Bruno Paz is away with Angola on international duty.

Having held Istanbulspor to a 0-0 draw last weekend, Omerovic is unlikely to rock the boat too much from that encouraging result. Ogulcan Ulgun will almost certainly start in the No. 10 role after scoring against Goztepe in the Turkish Cup in midweek.

Antalyaspor, meanwhile, have sacked forward Sagiv Jehezkel in recent days. After scoring the equaliser against Trabzonspor last weekend, the 28-year-old made his support for his homeland Israel clear by revealing "100 days. 7/10" on his bandaged hand. He was subsequently arrested for inciting hatred before returning to Tel Aviv on Tuesday.

Van de Streek could replace him after impressing against Pendikspor in midweek, but Naldo Gomes remains unavailable due to a muscle injury.

Konyaspor possible starting lineup:

Ertas; Oguz, Mert, Yazgili, Guilherme; Dikmen, Nzonzi; Prip, Ulgun, Moreno; Cikalleshi

Antalyaspor possible starting lineup:

Leite; Yesilyurt, Sari, Ozturk, Vural; De Streek, Safouri, Kaluzinski, Saric, Larsson; Buksa

We say: Konyaspor 1-1 Antalyaspor

Antalyaspor may have been unsettled by the controversial events surrounding Jehezkel and the club over the past week, while Konyaspor appear to have been boosted by making a change of management.

However, the visitors are clearly in much better form at present, and we expect them to have enough about them to claim a positive result in the form of sharing the spoils.

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