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

sportsmole.co.uk, 9 September 2022, 07:56
Hatayspor will set out to snap their four-game winless run when they take a trip to the Eskisehir New Ataturk Stadium to take on Konyaspor on Saturday.

The home side, who head into the weekend on a run of three consecutive victories, will look to keep the juggernaut rolling and move top of the Super Lig standings.

Match preview

Konyaspor maintained their impressive run of results in the new Super Lig campaign as they claimed a hard-earned 1-0 victory against Giresunspor when the sides met last Saturday.

Following an uneventful first half at the Cotanak Stadyumu, Ahmet Oguz set up Muhammet Demir for the only goal of the game six minutes after the restart to hand the visitors all three points.

Ilhan Palut's men, who kicked off the season with consecutive goalless draws with Ankaragucu and Istanbul Basaksehir respectively, have now won each of their subsequent three games, scoring six goals and keeping three clean sheets in that time.

Konyaspor, who are unbeaten in the league since May — four wins and three draws from in seven games — are currently second in the Super Lig standings, two points off first-placed Besiktas, after picking up 11 points from their opening five games.

Hatayspor, on the other hand, were denied their first win of the new campaign when they were held to a late 1-1 draw by Adana Demirspor at the New Hatay Stadium last Sunday.

Onur Ergun broke the deadlock in the 21st minute to put the Guneyin Yildizi on their way to all three points but Tayyip Sanuc struck in the ninth minute of stoppage time to force a share of the spoils.

Serkan Ozbalta's men, who finished 12th in the league table last season, have now failed to win any of their opening four games of the season, picking up one draw and losing three while scoring twice and shipping five goals in that time.

Hatayspor head into the weekend without an away win this year, picking up two draws and losing nine of their 11 games since last year's Christmas Day 1-0 victory over Giresunspor at the Cotanak Stadyumu.

While they will be looking to end this dry spell, standing in their way is a Konyaspor side who won both home and away meetings between the teams last season, scoring six goals and conceding twice over both legs.

Konyaspor Turkish Super Lig form:

Konyaspor form (all competitions):

Hatayspor Turkish Super Lig form:

Hatayspor form (all competitions):

Team News

Konyaspor will take to the pitch without Turkish defender Ogulcan Ulgun, who has been out of action since July after tearing his meniscus in pre-season.

He is joined on the club's injury table by veteran midfielder Amilton, who is set to sit out his fourth consecutive game after coming off with an injury in August's game against Istanbul Basaksehir.

Meanwhile, Onur Ergun is a doubt for the visitors after the 29-year-old midfielder was forced off injured late in the game against Adana Demirspor last time out.

Should he fail to shake off his injury, Turkish international Musa Cagiran should come into the starting XI for his fourth appearance of the season, teaming up with Ruben Ribeiro and Mehdi Boudjemaa at the centre of the park.

Hatayspor recently confirmed the signing of former Chelsea forward Christian Atsu and the Ghanian international should be handed his debut this weekend.

Konyaspor possible starting lineup:

Sehic; Oguz, Yazgili, Calvo, Haubert; Dikmen, Hadziahmetovic; Muric, Cekici, Bytyqi; Demir

Hatayspor possible starting lineup:

Kardesler; Cörekci; Yilmaz, Falette, Adekugbe; Boudjemaa, Ribeiro, Cagiran; Atsu, El Kaabi, Varga

We say: Konyaspor 2-0 Hatayspor

Konyaspor will be licking their lips as they take on a Hatayspor side who have stumbled into the new campaign. The visitors are without an away win in 2022 and we predict this poor run will continue with Palut's men claiming all three points once again.

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