Bodrumspor will round off their first-ever Turkish Super Lig campaign with a glamorous home clash against European-bound Besiktas on Sunday evening.
While it marks the end of a tough yet historic season for the hosts, the visitors arrive having secured their place in continental competition.
Match preview
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Having earned their maiden promotion to the Turkish top flight at the end of the 2023-24 season, Bodrumspor began this campaign with the promise of writing a new chapter in club history, but it has proved to be a difficult learning curve for them.
The Aegean outfit currently sit 18th in the table with 37 points, confirming their relegation back to the TFF 1. Lig after just one season, and though they showed signs of resilience, including an impressive six-match unbeaten run between early February to mid-March, it was ultimately not enough.
A run of six matches without victory, including three straight draws against Sivasspor (0-0), Trabzonspor (1-1) and Kayserispor (1-1) in their last three games, sealed their fate, leaving them five points short of safety with one game left.
Despite going down, their debut campaign will be remembered for their spirited home performances, the valuable experience gained, and changing managers twice, with Jose Morais only taking over in February.
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Besiktas, meanwhile, travel to the Bodrum peninsula in better spirits after confirming their place in next season's UEFA Europa League despite an embarrassing 2-1 loss at home to Caykur Rizespor.
Despite winning just three of their last eight league games, favourable results elsewhere saw them clinch fourth place, an improvement from their sixth-placed finish from last term, and a return to European football for another season.
A key part of that recovery has been the impact of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as the former Manchester United boss took charge in the second half of the campaign, inheriting a side that was out of sorts and trailing behind the top four, but managing to improve defensively and rediscovering a sense of tactical identity.
Solskjaer has overseen eight wins in 16 league matches, drawing four and losing four times, though the Black Eagles are now winless in their last two games, with one loss and a draw in that time.
Besiktas have no pressure heading into the final day, having secured their objective, but completing a double over Bodrum and ending the season positively will be on their mind.
Team News
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Uzeyir Ergun is set to deputise for the injured Ondrej Celustka at right-back for Bodrum, while Suleyman Ozdamar is expected to partner in central defence in place of Christophe Herelle, who remains sidelined.
Elsewhere, Kerem Ersunar and Musah Mohammed are both unavailable through injury, though neither were likely to start this weekend.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to injury, while Bakhtiyor Zaynutdinov also remains sidelined for Besiktas.
Milot Rashica and Salih Ucan are also injured, while Ciro Immobile is suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
Bodrumspor possible starting lineup:
Sousa; Ozdamar, Ajeti, Aytemur; Sen, Fredy, Antalyali, Bardhi, Ergun; Bayrakdar, Puscas
Besiktas possible starting lineup:
Gunok; Masuaku, Paulista, Uduokhai, Svensson; Hadziahmetovic, Fernandes; Arroyo, Rafa, Muci; Immobile
We say: Bodrumspor 2-2 Besiktas
With Besiktas having already secured a Europa League spot, they may not be at full tilt, but Solskjaer will want to end on a high, but with Bodrumspor already relegated, this could turn out to be one of those matches both teams have a go at it on the front foot and settle for a draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
