Preview: Besiktas vs. Antalyaspor - prediction, team news, lineups

Besiktas will be looking to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to seven matches when they play host to Antalyaspor on Sunday.

The visitors enter the contest in the relegation zone and are winless in their previous seven Turkish Super Lig matches.

Match preview

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Since Onder Karaveli took over the reins from Sergen Yalcin, the Black Eagles have lost just once in 10 matches in all competitions.

Although they are unlikely to retain their league title, Besiktas will be pleased that recent results has seen them close the gap to the top four to just a single point.

Despite enjoying a superb unbeaten run, Besiktas would have been disappointed to have drawn their last league game.

Alex Teixeira gave the Black Eagles the advantage over Yeni Malatyaspor, but Adem Buyuk struck from the spot to ensure that the side bottom of the Super Lig would take a point off Besiktas.

Having won eight of their 11 home league games this season, Besiktas will be aiming to make the most of home advantage once again on Sunday as they continue their quest for European qualification.

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After a surprise victory over the league leaders Trabzonspor on December 11, Antalyaspor sat in 12th place in the Super Lig table, but they have not won since that encounter, and they now find themselves in the relegation zone and two points adrift of safety.

Having picked up just three points from those last seven league games, Nuri Sahin will know that he is under pressure to change his side's fortunes.

They did pick up a point from their last outing, drawing 0-0 with Gaziantep, but if they are to escape the drop zone then victories rather than draws are needed.

Antalyaspor's away form has been particularly troublesome, having won just once on the road in the league this season, and their recent away results makes for grim reading.

Sahin's men have lost their last six away league games, conceding 14 goals in that period while only scoring twice, and their away day woes need to be addressed if they are to start climbing up the league table.

Team News

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Rachid Ghezzal and Umut Meras are both unavailable for Besiktas due to hip and ankle issues respectively.

Josef De Souza is also an injury absentee for the hosts, although Welinton could be included in the squad after missing the last two games.

Meanwhile, Michy Batshuayi will be aiming to add to the nine league goals that he has scored this season when he leads the line on Sunday.

As for the visitors, they are still without the services of Harun Alpsoy, Sheral Floranus and Ufuk Akyol due to injury problems.

Guray Vural returns from a one-match suspension and could come straight back into the starting lineup for Sunday's contest.

One of Antalyaspor's main goal threats will come from Haji Wright, who has scored five goals in the Super Lig this season.

Besiktas possible starting lineup:
Destanoglu; Rosier, Uysal, Vida, Yilmaz; Pjanic, Hutchinson, Teixeira; Larin, Yalcin, Batshuayi

Antalyaspor possible starting lineup:
Boffin; Sari, Naldo, Kudryashov; Balci, Fredy, Fernando, Vural; Mehmedi, Sinik, Wright

We say: Besiktas 3-1 Antalyaspor

With Besiktas currently enjoying a fine run of form, and Antalyaspor struggling for points, we cannot see past a comfortable home victory on Sunday as the hosts look to keep up their hunt for European qualification.

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