TrabzonsporTrabzonsporvs.Hull City

The Tigers drew 1-1 with Istanbul Basaksehir on Wednesday, but this contest will represent Trabzonspor's first match since drawing 1-1 with Ankaragucu in the Super Lig on November 11.

Match preview

Trabzonspor are the reigning Super Lig champions, lifting their seventh top-flight title last term, but they are currently down in seventh spot in the table, boasting 23 points from their opening 13 matches.

It is not a disastrous position considering that they are only six points behind the leaders Fenerbahce, while the champions have lost just twice in the league this term.

Abdullah Avci's side finished third in their Europa League group despite picking up nine points from six matches, which has seen them drop into the Europa Conference League playoffs, where they will take on Basel over two legs in February.

Trabzonspor were last in action in the league on November 11, playing out a 1-1 draw with Ankaragucu, and they will actually play three friendlies in the early stages of this month, also taking on Crystal Palace and Kasimpasa before facing Samsunspor in the Turkish Cup on December 20.

The team will then be back in Super Lig action against Fenerbahce on December 24, and the club's supporters will be expecting a rise up the table over the next few weeks.

Hull, meanwhile, confirmed Liam Rosenior as their head coach at the start of November, and the 38-year-old has now taken charge of three matches, boasting a record of one win, one draw and one defeat.

The Tigers finished 19th in the Championship last season on their return to the second tier from League One, while they have not been a Premier League club since the 2016-17 campaign.

Hull have found it difficult in the opening months of this campaign, picking up 24 points from their 21 matches, which has left them in 20th position in the table.

Rosenior's side suffered a 2-1 loss to Reading in their last Championship match on November 12, and they will be back in league action on December 11, facing a trip to Vicarage Road to take on Watford.

The Tigers took on Istanbul Basaksehir in a mid-season friendly on Wednesday, with Tyler Smith cancelling out a first-half penalty from Danijel Aleksic in the 1-1 draw.

Trabzonspor friendlies form:

W

D

L

L

Trabzonspor form (all competitions):

D

W

L

W

D

D

Hull City friendlies form:

L

W

W

L

W

L

Hull City form (all competitions):

W

L

L

D

W

L

Team News

Trabzonspor will be without the services of Jens Stryger Larsen and Maxi Gomez, who are currently at the World Cup with Denmark and Uruguay respectively.

Denmark have now been eliminated from the competition, though, which will see Larsen head back to his Turkish club in the near future to prepare for the rest of the campaign.

Marc Bartra, Marek Hamsik and Jean-Philippe Gbamin are expected to be among those in the starting side on Saturday, while Gomez's absence could see Umut Bozok lead the line.

Hull boss Rosenior made full use of his squad against Istanbul Basaksehir on Wednesday and that will again be the case in this match, with the team preparing for the return of competitive action.

The Tigers have not reported any injury problems from their last match, so there is every chance that the same XI could take to the field, with wholesale changes being made just before the hour.

Oscar Estupinan has been in strong form for Hull this season, scoring eight Championship goals, and the 25-year-old is again set to lead the line for the second-tier side.

Trabzonspor possible starting lineup:

Cakir; Denswil, Bartra, Hugo, Elmali; Gbamin, Hamsik; Omur, Yazici, Bardhi; Bozok

Hull City possible starting lineup:

Ingram; Christie, Figueiredo, Greaves, Fleming; Tufan, Woods; Doherty, Jones, Sinik; Estupinan

We say: Trabzonspor 2-1 Hull City

Hull gave a strong account of themselves against Istanbul Basaksehir last time out, and we are expecting a similar game here. Trabzonspor are without a couple of important players, but the Turkish champions will fancy their chances of securing a victory against their English opponents.

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