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

The hosts have lost their previous three games in the top-flight, while Umraniyespor claimed their first league win of the season last weekend.

Match preview

After beginning the Turkish Super Lig season with an eight-game winless run, Sivasspor looked to have turned a corner when they recorded victories over Istanbul Basaksehir and Giresunspor.

However, they have been unable to add to their points tally since those two wins, with their last three league games all ending in defeat, leaving them two points adrift of safety.

While they have struggled in domestic action, Sivasspor have demonstrated that they have the quality in their squad after picking up 11 points from six games to top their Europa Conference League group, ensuring that they will participate in the last 16 in the new year.

In their final game before the World Cup break, the visitors will be hoping to showcase the type of performance that has led to their success in Europe, although they will need to improve in the final third if they are to record a positive result.

Sivasspor have failed to score in their last three league matches, while they are also the joint-lowest scorers in the top-flight.

While the hosts are currently in 17th place, Umraniyespor are currently bottom of the Turkish Super Lig table with six points separating them from safety.

After winning promotion from the second tier, Recep Ucar's side failed to record a victory in any of their opening 11 league games, but they will head into Saturday's contest with a renewed sense of belief after winning their last two games in all competitions.

In their most recent league game, a Umut Nayir brace and a Geraldo effort helped secure Umraniyespor a 3-1 victory over Alanyaspor.

They followed their first win of the Turkish Super Lig season with another positive result in midweek as they thrashed Efeler 09 Sport 4-0 in the Turkish Cup to progress to the fifth round.

Umraniyespor will now turn their attention to Saturday's contest where they will attempt to claim their first away win of the campaign.

Sivasspor Turkish Super Lig form:

L

W

W

L

L

L

Sivasspor form (all competitions):

W

L

W

L

D

L

Umraniyespor Turkish Super Lig form:

L

L

D

L

L

W

Umraniyespor form (all competitions):

Team News

Sivasspor are expected to be without the services of Ugur Ciftci, while there are also doubts over the fitness of Murat Paluli and Leke James.

Dimitrios Goutas dropped out of the side for Monday's defeat to Fenerbahce, but he is expected to return to the starting XI to partner Caner Osmanpasa in central defence.

Riza Calimbay could also bring Clinton N'Jie into the lineup, with the 29-year-old set to operate on the right wing.

As for the visitors, goalkeeper Serkan Kirintili is a doubt after missing the last eight games in all competitions through injury.

Ucar made wholesale changes for Umraniyespor's midweek cup win, but he is expected to revert back to the lineup that started the league victory against Alanyaspor.

Nayir will continue to lead the line for the visitors, and the forward will be looking to add to the four goals that he has scored this season.

Sivasspor possible starting lineup:

Vural; Yesilyurt; Osmanpasa, Goutas, Erdal; Yalcin, Ulvestad; N'Jie, Saba, Gradel; Yatabare

Umraniyespor possible starting lineup:

Ozdemir; Popov, Allyson, Glumac, Atasayar; Geraldo, Avounou, Sackey, Goksu, Del Valle; Nayir

We say: Sivasspor 2-1 Umraniyespor

Although Umraniyespor have won their last two games in all competitions, they have lost three of their last four away matches, and we think they will be edged out by Sivasspor on Saturday.

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