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

Besiktas will try to end an eight-game winless run in all competitions when they welcome Kayserispor to Vodafone Park on Sunday.

The visitors enter the fixture in 13th place, and a victory at the weekend would seem them leapfrog their opponents in the Turkish Super Lig table.

Match preview

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Besiktas' defence of the Turkish Super Lig title has got off to a poor start with the reigning champions in ninth place, and they are already 18 points adrift of runaway leaders Trabzonspor.

Their poor start to the season saw Sergen Yalcin relieved of his duties as head coach following the 5-0 defeat in the Champions League to Borussia Dortmund in midweek.

After exiting European competition, Besiktas will turn their attention to domestic action and though their title hopes may have vanished, Sunday's hosts will still want to finish the campaign in the European places.

If they are to climb up the table, they need to start picking up points after losing four of their last five league matches.

Home form will be crucial if they are to improve, and after two consecutive league defeats at Vodafone Park, Sunday's contest represents a perfect opportunity to instil some confidence into the side.

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Kayserispor will be hoping to take advantage of a struggling Besiktas side, and the visitors enter the contest in a positive mood after collecting consecutive victories.

After a 4-0 win in the Turkish Cup, Yalcin Kosukavak's side gained momentum with a 2-0 home victory over Antalyaspor last weekend.

In that encounter, Mame Thiamm scored a brace in the opening 17 minutes, before Kayserispor were reduced to ten-men when Mario Gavranovic was sent off and in the 60th minute, Dimitrios Kolovetsios was also given his marching orders.

Despite ending the contest with nine men, the hosts managed to hold firm to claim their fourth home league victory of the season.

Kosukavak's men have relied on their superb home form, having only won once on their travels in the league this season, and after going six away games without a win, they may be pessimistic about their chances on Sunday.

Team News

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Besiktas are without Josef de Souza and Welinton, with the pair suspended due to yellow card accumulation

Georges-Kevin N'Koudou, Alex Teixeira and Mert Gunok are all ruled out due to injury.

Chelsea loanee Michy Batshuayi is expected to lead the line as he looks to add to the four league goals that he has scored this season.

As for the visitors, they will are missing the suspended duo of Gavranovic and Kolovetsios.

Their suspensions could present starting opportunities to Ugur Demirok and Ilhan Parlak.

Kayserispor will be without the services of Miguel Cardoso and Bernard Mensah with the pair set to miss the game through injury.

Besiktas possible starting lineup:
Destanoglu; Rosier, Montero, Vida, Yilmaz; Bozdogan, Ucan, Topal; Larin, Ghezzal, Batshuayi

Kayserispor possible starting lineup:
Lung Jr; Bulut, Hosseini, Demirok, Carole; Attamah, Campanharo, Kemen; Bassan, Thiam, Parlak

We say: Besiktas 2-1 Kayserispor

Despite their recent poor run of results, Besiktas have won the last five competitive home meetings against Kayserispor, and we think that they will continue that record with a narrow victory on Sunday.

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