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

The reigning champions have had a difficult season, currently sitting down in eighth position in the table, while the visitors occupy 13th, eight points clear of the relegation zone.

Match preview

Trabzonspor won their seventh Turkish top-flight title last season, claiming 81 points from 38 matches to finish eight points clear of second-place Fenerbahce at the top of the division.

However, there is no getting away from the fact that it has been a hugely disappointing campaign for the Claret and Sky Blues, picking up just 45 points from 30 matches to sit down in eighth position in the table.

Trabzonspor are some 25 points behind division leaders Galatasaray, while they are 20 points behind third-placed Besiktas, winning just 13 times in the Turkish Super Lig this term.

Nenad Bjelica was appointed head coach last month and has had a difficult start, losing his first two matches, while the team have actually been beaten in four of their last five domestic games, with their last success coming sway to Gaziantep FK in the middle of March.

Trabzonspor will be bidding to end a disappointing season on a high, and they have not actually finished in their current position or lower since claiming 12th in 2015-16.

Ankaragucu, meanwhile, secured a return to the top flight by winning the TFF First League last season, so consolidating back at this level was their main aim for the campaign.

AG are currently 13th in the table on 35 points, some eight points clear of the relegation zone, so they are in a very strong position when it comes to retaining their status at this level.

Tolunay Kafkas's side were last in league action on April 29, playing out a goalless draw with Kasimpasa, and they have actually picked up seven points from their last three league games.

Ankaragucu suffered a 1-0 loss in the first leg of their Turkish Cup semi-final against Istanbul Basaksehir on Thursday evening, but they will have the chance to turn the tie around in the second leg of the contest on May 23.

Trabzonspor have enjoyed the better of their previous 78 meetings with Ankaragucu, winning 41 times, although the points were shared in a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture earlier this season.

Trabzonspor Turkish Super Lig form:

W

L

L

D

L

L

Ankaragucu Turkish Super Lig form:

L

L

W

L

W

D

Ankaragucu form (all competitions):

L

W

L

W

D

L

Team News

Trabzonspor will be without the services of Anastasios Bakasetas through suspension, while the champions are also missing a number of first-team players due to fitness problems.

Indeed, Stefano Denswil, Naci Unuvar, Maxi Gomez, Emmanouil Siopis, Abdulkadir Parmak, Serkan Asan and Dorukhan Tokoz are unavailable for selection through injury.

Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Lazar Markovic could both come into the starting XI for this match, but there will once again be a spot at centre-forward for Umut Bozok.

As for Ankaragucu, Kevin Malcuit is suspended due to the booking that he picked up in the goalless draw with Kasimpasa on April 29.

The visitors will also be unable to call upon Hasan Ali Kaldirim or Uros Radakovic, with the duo set to miss the end of the campaign.

Head coach Kafkas will make changes to the side that started against Istanbul Basaeksehir in the cup last time out, with Tasos Chatzigiovanis and Taylan Antalyali among those set to return.

Trabzonspor possible starting lineup:

Cakir; Haspolat, Turkmen, Bartra, Elmali; Bardhi, Hamsik, Gbamin, Markovic, Trezeguet; Bozok

Ankaragucu possible starting lineup:

Akkan; Kizildag, Cankaya, Mujakic; Kitsiou, Diack, Antalyali, Hanousek; Zahid, Sowe, Chatzigiovanis

We say: Trabzonspor 1-1 Ankaragucu

Trabzonspor are very difficult to back at the moment, and the visitors have only lost one of their last five in the league, so we have had to settle on a low-scoring draw here, which would prove to be another disappointing result for the reigning champions.

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