With the relegation picture in the Turkish Super Lig growing increasingly tense, Alanyaspor find themselves in the thick of it as they prepare to host an in-form but travel-shy Kayserispor.
While the visitors arrive with a solid unbeaten run behind them and a six-point cushion over the drop zone, the stakes are much higher for the hosts, who are inside the bottom four.
Match preview
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There was no shortage of goals in Alanyaspor's 4-3 defeat away at Trabzonspor last time out, but the scoreline did not quite reflect the balance of play, as despite finding the net three times, Joao Pereira's men were second-best throughout and created very little, but relied on clinical finishing to stay in touch.
It was their sixth loss in seven, a worrying run that has dragged them into deep trouble, and while a narrow 1-0 win over Samsunspor did end their five-game losing streak just before the trip to Trabzon, any momentum from that result evaporated quickly.
Pereira's side are level on points with Sivasspor, who are just outside the drop zone, but have a game in hand, a small advantage, but one that will only matter if they start putting results together.
With three of their final five matches at home, including this clash with Kayserispor, Alanyaspor have a clear chance to turn their situation around, but having won just once in their last seven, pressure is mounting.
Home form has been patchy of late too, with just two wins in their last five league outings at Bahcesehir Okullari Stadium, though they did win four in a row before that wobble, and with Besiktas and Sivasspor still to come here after Kayerispor in the run-in, turning their home into a fortress again could be their ticket to safety.
There is some recent encouragement from this fixture as well, with the last three meetings between these sides having all gone the way of the home team, and Alanyaspor have come out on top in one of those, a trend they will hope continues this time.
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As for Kayserispor, they may not be completely safe just yet, but a six-point cushion and a five-game unbeaten run has given them some much-needed breathing room.
A hard-fought 1-0 win over Rizespor last weekend extended that streak, keeping the Anatolian Star heading in the right direction, and even if the performance was far from perfect, Sergej Jakirovic will be pleased with the points.
They rode their luck at times in the game and were bailed out by some wasteful finishing from their opponents – nevertheless, four wins and a draw from their last five is a return few would have predicted when they were flirting with the relegation spots themselves.
The away record, however, remains a thorn, with the Kayseri side winning just one from their last nine on the road, along with three draws and five defeats in that spell – the sole victory coming against the league's worst side Adana Demirspor.
Team News
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Alanyaspor will be without Yusuf Ozdemir due to suspension, with Jure Balkovec expected to slot in at left-back.
Hwang Ui-Jo and Fidan Aliti have both completed their respective bans and should return straight to the starting XI.
Young midfielder Buluthan Bulut remains sidelined through injury, although he was not in contention to start this one.
Carlos Mane is in line to lead the line for Kayserispor with Duckens Nazon suspended and Stephane Bahoken ruled out long-term with a serious Achilles injury that will keep him out until 2026.
Joseph Attamah will likely partner Arif Kocaman at centre-back, stepping in for the injured Julian Jeanvier, while the trio of Dimitrios Kolovetsios, Nurettin Korkmaz and Yaw Ackah also remain out.
Alanyaspor possible starting lineup:
Taskiran; Aksoy, Lima, Aliti; Balkovec, Richard, Janvier, Hadergjonaj; Vilhena, Ui-Jo, Cordova
Kayserispor possible starting lineup:
Bayazit; Sazdagi, Attamah, Hosseini, Carole; Yilmaz, Karimi; Civelek, Bourabia, Cardoso; Mane
We say: Alanyaspor 1-1 Kayserispor
Alanyaspor are desperate for points and will see this as a must-win, especially with their remaining home games potentially decisive in the relegation battle, and while Kayserispor have been resilient lately, they continue to struggle on the road, but we believe they still have enough to earn a draw here.
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