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

The visitors have only picked up two points from their opening four league games of the season, which has left them down in 17th spot in the table, while Sivasspor are 11th, boasting five points at this stage.

Match preview

Sivasspor started their 2023-24 Super Lig campaign with a 1-1 draw against Samsunspor on August 13 before recording a 3-1 victory over Gaziantep FK in their second match of the season one week later.

The team's unbeaten start continued with a 1-1 draw against Antalyaspor on August 26, but they entered the international break off the back of a 2-0 defeat at Besiktas.

Sivasspor spent the 2016-17 campaign out of Turkey's top flight, but they have been present in the leading division since, finishing 14th in the table last season.

Servet Cetin is now in charge of the Braves, having been appointed head coach at the end of June, stepping up from his assistant manager role at the club.

Sivasspor have collected five points from their four matches this season to sit 11th in the table, while they have scored five and conceded five during a solid start.

Ankaragucu, meanwhile, are yet to record their first victory of the 2023-24 campaign, picking up just two points from four matches, which has left them down in 17th spot.

Tolunay Kafkas's side suffered a 3-2 loss to Kasimpasa in their first match of the new season on August 12 before sharing the points with Adana Demirspor and Fatih Karagumruk in their next two.

Ankaragucu gave a good account of themselves in their clash with league leaders Fenerbahce before the international break but ultimately suffered a 1-0 defeat in Ankara.

AG have only conceded six times in their four matches, while they have netted four times, so it is not quite time to hit the panic button at this stage of the season.

Sivasspor recorded a 2-0 victory when the two teams met in the corresponding match last season, while Ankaragucu have only beaten Monday's opponents once in the league since May 2019.

Sivasspor Turkish Super Lig form:

Ankaragucu Turkish Super Lig form:

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Team News

Sivasspor are unlikely to be able to call upon Gerson Rodrigues for this match, as the attacker had to be replaced in the early stages of the contest with Besiktas last time out.

As a result, there will have to be at least one change from the team's last match, with his replacement off the bench, Roman Kvet, likely to be given the nod in the final third of the field.

Head coach Cetin is unlikely to shuffle his pack for this match, with the majority of the players that took to the pitch for the first whistle against Besiktas set to retain their positions.

Ankaragucu, meanwhile, will be missing forward Ali Sowe due to a hand fracture.

The 29-year-old scored 16 times for the Turkish outfit during the 2022-23 campaign, so his absence is a huge blow for the visitors in this contest.

Riad Bajic is expected to be given the nod in the final third of the field in potentially the only change from the side that started against Fenerbahce due to the manner of the performance.

Sivasspor possible starting lineup:

Vural; Paluli, Appindangoye, Osmanpasa, Ciftci; Charisis, Konak, Saiz; Manaj, N'Jie, Kvet

Ankaragucu possible starting lineup:

Gikiewicz; Kitsiou, Radakovic, Cetin, Mujakic; Dokanovic, Cigerci; Morutan, Bekiroglu, Cephas; Bajic

We say: Sivasspor 2-1 Ankaragucu

Ankaragucu certainly have enough quality to secure a positive result on Monday evening, but we are expecting Sivasspor to triumph here. The home side have made a solid start to the campaign and have enough quality to navigate their way to three points in this contest.

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