Preview: Fatih Karagumruk vs. Hatayspor - prediction, team news, lineups

Fatih Karagumruk and Hatayspor will be aiming to build on promising starts to the Turkish Super Lig season when they meet on Sunday.

The hosts are fifth in the table on 17 points, while the visitors sit second on 19 points.

Match preview

Both clubs were promoted from the second tier in 2020 and have earned several plaudits for the impact they have made on the top flight.

Fatih Karagumruk finished eighth last season and are managed by 32-year-old Francesco Farioli, who became the youngest manager in a professional European league when he was appointed in March.

Farioli is reportedly already being eyed up by clubs in his homeland of Italy, having transformed Fatih Karagumruk into an attacking, possession-based side.

The Istanbul-based outfit have won four of their last six games, with Yann Karamoh's early goal securing a 1-0 victory over Altay last weekend.

Only Besiktas have picked up more points at home this season than Fatih Karagumruk, who have collected 10 points from a possible 12 at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium.

Hatayspor's rise over the last few years is perhaps even more impressive; last season was their first ever top flight campaign and they finished sixth.

Now the Antakya-based side are mounting a surprise early title challenge and sit two points behind leaders Trabzonspor after the opening nine games.

The man in the dugout is Omer Erdogan, a former Fatih Karagumruk boss, who has led Hatayspor to six wins from their last seven matches – including a 2-1 victory over Gaziantep on Monday.

Hatayspor have the best defence in the Turkish Super Lig with just seven goals conceded so far this season, while they have won their last three away matches 2-0.

Team News

Former Juventus and Bayern Munich centre-back Mehdi Benatia remains sidelined through injury for Fatih Karagumruk, so Burak Bekaroglu will continue to deputise in the centre of defence.

Full-back Jure Balkovec is pushing for a recall, while Erhun Oztumer has lost his place in recent weeks and will be eager to get back into the starting lineup.

Fatih Karagumruk goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano and Hatayspor shot stopper Munir both have four clean sheets to their name this season – the joint-most in the Turkish Super Lig.

Mehdi Boudjemaa is available again for Hatayspor after being suspended for the game against Gaziantep on Monday.

Mohammed Kamara has come off the bench to score in each of the last two matches so may have earned himself a start on Sunday.

Fatih Karagumruk possible starting lineup:
Viviano; Balkovec, Bekaroglu, Zukanovic, Erkin; Biglia; Musa, Durmaz, Bertolacci, Karamoh; Pesic

Hatayspor possible starting lineup:
Munir; Corekci, Kurucuk, Oksuz, Adekugbe; Ribeiro, Boudjemaa; Lobzhanidze, Traore, El Kaabi; Diouf

We say: Fatih Karagumruk 1-1 Hatayspor

This should be a fascinating encounter between two really exciting sides. Both teams have started the season in strong form which makes it a difficult game to predict, but we think they will cancel each other out and it will end level.