Relegation-threatened Bodrumspor welcome a faltering Samsunspor to the Bodrum IIce Stadium in the Turkish Super Lig on Saturday.
With just a handful of matches remaining, both teams are under immense pressure, as the hosts are battling for survival, while the visitors are clinging onto a place in the top three with European football in their sights.
Match preview
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Bodrumspor remain entrenched in a tense relegation scrap and currently occupy the final spot in the drop zone, sitting level on 34 points with Alanyaspor but behind on goal difference and having played one more match.
A 2-0 defeat to Galatasaray last time out dented what was looking like a winnable battle over survival, as it was only their second loss in 10 league matches, a run that has included several impressive defensive showings.
Prior to the loss, Jose Morais's men had kept back-to-back clean sheets and they have now conceded in just two of their last 10 games, highlighting their defensive prowess.
Despite boasting the fifth-best defensive record in the Super Lig, even better than Samsunspor's, Bodrum's biggest concern remains their lack of goals, having scored just 23 times this season, the fewest in the division; a lack of firepower that continues to drag them down.
In their first-ever top-flight meeting with the visitors earlier this season, Bodrum were humbled 4-0 in a comprehensive defeat, but the team have become tougher to beat in recent weeks, and will fancy their chances against the struggling away side.
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Samsunspor's once-promising season is threatening to unravel, with their 1-0 defeat to Alanyaspor last time out marking a fourth consecutive loss.
Thomas Reis's men have now gone five matches without a win, and their form could not be dipping at a worse time, with a European spot now hanging by a thread.
The Red Lightning's recent record paints a bleak picture, having scored just one goal in five matches, and conceding seven times in that same stretch.
Despite still holding on to third place, their advantage over fourth-placed Eyupspor stands at just one point, while fifth-placed Besiktas are only two points behind with a game in hand.
This fixture is made even more crucial by the tough tests that lie ahead, with Samsunspor still having to face Eyupspor in their next outing and a showdown with Trabzonspor to come.
However, having failed to win in their last four on the road, drawing twice and losing twice, combined with their attacking issues, the visitors are sitting on thin ice as they visit a defensively-solid Bodrum.
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Team News
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Bodrumspor will be without Kerem Ersunar, who is sidelined through injury, but they welcome back Musah Mohammed, who is now fully fit and ready to start in defence.
Jonathan Okita failed to make an impression in the defeat to Galatasaray last time out and is expected to drop to the bench, with George Puscas likely to lead the line in his place.
Samsunspor have a couple of enforced changes to contend with, as Celil Yuksel is ruled out through injury, meaning Olivier Ntcham is expected to step into the holding midfield role.
Further up the pitch, Flavien Tait is set to deputise for the injured Youssef Bennasser in the centre of the park.
Bodrumspor possible starting lineup:
Sousa; Celustka, Ajeti, Aytemur, Sen; Mohamed, Antalyali; Fredy; Bardhi, Seferi; Puscas
Samsunspor possible starting lineup:
Kocuk; Schindler, Satka, Van Drongelen, Gonul; Tait, Ntcham; Muja, Dimata, Holse; Mouandilmadji
We say: Bodrumspor 1-0 Samsunspor
Samsunspor are currently enduring a difficult spell and appear to be lacking in confidence, a problem that is unlikely to ease against a well-drilled Bodrum side that have proven defensively resolute and consistently managed to grind out results in recent weeks.
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