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

The Yigidolar Yigidos, meanwhile, are currently one of just three sides yet to taste victory on home turf in the league this season and will be seeking to end this dry spell.

Match preview

Sivasspor kept their chances of securing top spot in Group G of the Conference League alive as they fought back from behind to claim a 2-1 victory away to Ballkani on Thursday.

After falling behind to Armend Thaqi's 36th-minute opener, the visitors upped the ante in the second half as Hakan Arslan and Karol Angielski scored in a nine-minute spell to turn the game around in Albania.

Riza Calimbay's men have now picked up two wins, one draw and lost one of their four games so far to collect seven points and sit second in Group G, only below first-placed CFR Cluj on goal difference.

Sivasspor now turn their sights to the Turkish Super Lig, where they secured their first win of the new campaign last Monday courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Istanbul Basaksehir at the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium.

With seven points from their opening nine games, the Yigidolar Yigidos are currently 16th in the league standings, but could rise as high as 12th place with all three points on Monday.

Sivasspor's sloppy start to the 2022-23 campaign has been owing to their struggles at the defensive end of the pitch, where they have conceded 13 goals so far while managing just one clean sheet since the start of May.

Giresunspor, on the other hand, continue to struggle for results as they suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Besiktas on home turf last Saturday.

In a cagey affair at the Cotanak Stadyumu, Tayyip Talha Sanuc grabbed the headlines as he netted the only goal of the game shortly after the half-hour mark to hand the visitors all three points.

Giresunspor have now failed to taste victory in any of their most recent five outings, picking up two points from the last 15 available since a 1-0 home victory over Kasimpasa on August 20.

Hakan Keles's men have now picked up two wins, two draws and lost four of their nine games this season to collect eight points and sit 13th in the Super Lig standings, level on points with 14th-placed Istanbulspor.

While the Cotanaklar will be looking to arrest their slump, next up is the stern challenge of taking on a Sivasspor side who they have failed to get the better of in their last six meetings, losing four and claiming two draws since January 2010.

Sivasspor Turkish Super Lig form:

L

D

D

L

L

W

Sivasspor form (all competitions):

W

L

L

L

W

W

Giresunspor Turkish Super Lig form:

W

L

L

D

D

L

Team News

Sivasspor will be without the Nigerian attacking duo of Ahmed Musa and 29-year-old Leke James, who have been sidelined through arm and ankle injuries respectively.

Malian defender Samba Camara is yet to feature this season after suffering an injury back in May, while Fredrik Ulvestad is a doubt after missing the trip to Ballkani last time out.

Veteran defender Ziya Erdal has missed the last six matches through a muscle problem and the 34-year-old is out of contention for Monday's matchup.

Sivasspor will have to make do with the absence of Brazilian international Serginho, who will serve the second of his three-match suspension after picking up a straight red against Alanyaspor on October 2.

Despite their defeat against Besiktas, Keles could name an unchanged back four of Hayrullah Bilazer, Ramon Arias, Alexis Perez and Alper Uludag, with skipper Onurcan Piri between the sticks.

Riad Bajic, who has two goals under his belt this season, should spearhead the attack once again, while Jorman Campuzano and Murat Cem Akpinar should retain their roles at the centre of the park.

Sivasspor possible starting lineup:

Sasal; Paluli, Goutas, Osmanpasa, Ciftci; Arslan, Keita; NJie, Saba, Yesilyurt; Yatabare

Giresunspor possible starting lineup:

Piri; Bilazer, Arias, Perez, Uludag; Savicevic, Campuzano; Kuwas, Saglam, Sainz; Bajic

We say: Sivasspor 2-1 Giresunspor

Sivasspor appear to have hit their stride once again as they head into Monday's clash on a run of two consecutive wins. The hosts take on a floundering Giresunspor side who have picked up two points from their last five league matches and we predict they will come away with a slender victory.

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