Preview: Caykur Rizespor vs. Antalyaspor - prediction, team news, lineups

Struggling Caykur Rizespor will hope to give their Turkish Super Lig survival chances a boost when they host an Antalyaspor side sitting just above the relegation zone.

Rizespor are currently 19th in the table and three points adrift of safety, while the Scorpions are 15th and only two points above the bottom four.

Match preview

Rizespor were beaten 2-0 by Fatih Karagumruk on Saturday, meaning they are without a win in their last four matches.

Hamza Hamzaoglu's side have the worst defence in the Turkish Super Lig this season, having conceded 38 goals in 21 games.

However, their chances of picking up a win are significantly increased when they are playing at home; 17 of Rizespor's 18 points in 2021-22 have been registered at the Yeni Rize Sehir Stadium.

Manager Hamzaoglu counts Antalyaspor among the 12 clubs he has previously managed, taking charge of an 18-game stint in 2018.

Antalyaspor have won just once away from home this season and have lost their last five matches on the road, scoring only once in that run.

Nuri Sahin's team earned a 1-1 draw against Fenerbahce on Saturday, with Dogukan Sinik cancelling out Serdar Dursun's opener.

The Scorpions – who only survived relegation by four points last season – are winless in five league matches and have not kept a clean sheet since the end of November.

This season's reverse fixture between these two sides was an absolute thriller; Haji Wright completed his hattrick from the penalty spot in the 100th minute to secure a 3-2 win for Antalyaspor after Damjan Djokovic had netted an equaliser for Rizespor, also from 12 yards, in the 92nd minute.

Team News

Rizespor will have defensive pair Fabricio Baiano and Gokhan Gonul available again after they were suspended at the weekend.

Captain Gonul, usually a right-back, could fill in at centre-back as Sebastian Holmen will serve a one-match ban after receiving his fourth yellow card of the campaign.

Yusuf Sari made his debut off the bench on Saturday after signing from Trabzonspor so will be pushing for a start, but fellow winger Yannick Bolasie remains sidelined.

Antalyaspor defender Veysel Sari is suspended after picking up his fourth yellow card of the season and Nuri Sahin could switch to a back four in his absence.

Dogukan Sinik was forced off with an injury issue after scoring against Fenerbahce at the weekend, so will be assessed ahead of Wednesday's game.

January signing Admir Mehmedi could come in for his first start after making a substitute appearance on Saturday, but fellow new arrival Fernando is not match fit yet.

Caykur Rizespor possible starting lineup:
Akkan; Baiano, Gonul, Ay, Sertel; Djokovic, Sabo; Boldrin, Potuk, Boyd; Pohjanpalo

Antalyaspor possible starting lineup:
Boffin; Balci, Kudryashov, Naldo, Vural; Ozmert, Fredy, Poli; Ghacha, Wright, Sinik

We say: Caykur Rizespor 1-1 Antalyaspor

A win would be huge for either side in the battle for survival, but we think it will end all square. Antalyaspor were given a confidence boost by getting a point against Fenerbahce, but their poor away record means that a win in this game seems unlikely.

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