Gaziantep will look to bring an end to their losing run and edge closer to top-flight safety when they host relegation-threatened Alanyaspor on Friday as the Turkish Super Lig enters its final stretch.
Victory for Selcuk Inan's side could all but secure their survival with four games remaining, while the visitors remain in more urgent need of a result as they sit just a point above the drop zone.
Match preview
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Gaziantep have picked up 42 points from 32 matches this season, and though they currently sit 12th in the standings, GFK are by no means out of the woods yet, with a win here potentially enough to guarantee their safety while also offering a chance to eclipse last term's tally of 44.
It has been a season of sharp contrasts for Inan's men, who have struggled badly on the road and fell to a 2-0 defeat at Caykur Rizespor in their last outing, making it three losses on the bounce and a dismal 11th away reverse of the campaign.
However, what they lack on their travels, Gaz have made up for on home soil, where they have registered 10 wins from 16 games and continue to be a formidable side despite a recent setback against Fenerbahce on their own turf.
Their success at the Gaziantep Stadium has been largely built on a strong defensive base, with GFK conceding only 11 times in the league on their patch – the fewest in the division – while their 22 goals scored there have proven decisive in several tight encounters.
That said, this weekend's match brings a familiar challenge, as Alanyaspor have enjoyed the better of recent meetings between the sides, with Gaz losing the last two by a 3-0 margin, including in this season's reverse fixture.
The hosts will also be mindful of the fact that Alanyaspor have left Gaziantep with maximum points on each of their last two visits, scoring three times on both occasions without reply.
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Meanwhile, the visitors head into Friday's clash fully aware of the stakes, with a victory likely to provide some much-needed breathing space in their battle for survival as the Thunders attempt to snap a two-game winless run.
Joao Pereira's men came up short in a pulsating seven-goal thriller at Trabzonspor before being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Kayserispor in their most recent outing, despite taking a first-half lead through Joseph Attamah's own goal, as they failed to make their chances count.
Alanyaspor have only managed one win from their last eight matches, with six defeats and just a single draw during that run, and the pressure is beginning to mount as they search for answers to halt the slide.
Their away form has hardly offered any solace either, having now lost each of their last five games on the road, where Simsekler's defensive frailties have been particularly costly, conceding at least twice in the last four to total 11 goals shipped.
While they have at least managed to find the net in each of those outings, Alanyaspor's inability to keep things tight at the back has continued to undermine their efforts and leaves them vulnerable heading into another crucial trip.
Team News
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Semih Guler is expected to retain his spot in the lineup with Arda Kizildag still sidelined by injury, while Muhammed Gumuskaya remains unavailable due to a lack of fitness.
Although Inan handed Emre Tasdemir a start on the left wing against Rizespor, the experiment lasted only 20 minutes before he was replaced by Christopher Lungoyi, who now looks set to get the nod from the off.
For the visitors, Buluthan Bulut is ruled out through injury and plays no part, though there is better news as Yusuf Ozdemir returns from suspension and is expected to slot straight back into the starting eleven.
Fatih Aksoy's recent performances have left much to be desired, and with that in mind, Juro Balkovec is tipped to continue at the heart of defence.
Gaziantep possible starting lineup:
Dioudis; M'Bakata, Viana, Guler, Sorescu; Ndiaye, Kozlowski; Lungoyi, Maxim, Okereke; Dervisoglu
Alanyaspor possible starting lineup:
Taskiran; Balkovec, Lima, Aliti; Ozdemir, Richard, Janvier, Hadergjonaj; Cordova, Ui-Jo, Vilhena
We say: Gaziantep 2-1 Alanyaspor
Only one team has managed to score in each of the last six meetings between these sides, but that pattern could be broken here given both Gaziantep and Alanyaspor have shown no shortage of goals in recent home and away outings, respectively.
The visitors may have held the upper hand in this fixture of late, yet that grip could loosen considering the hosts' strong form on their own patch.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
