Preview: Giresunspor vs. Yeni Malatyaspor - prediction, team news, lineups

Two Turkish sides struggling at the wrong end of the Super Lig table will face off at the Cotanak Stadyumu on Saturday afternoon as Giresunspor host Yeni Malatyaspor.

The visitors have lost three of their last four away matches without scoring, while Giresunspor are looking to avoid a fourth successive league game on home soil without a win.

Match preview

Giresunspor's winless league run was extended to three matches when they played out a goalless draw away against Sivasspor just before the international break.

That result was not enough to see Hakan Keles's men escape the relegation zone but they are now just two points behind Saturday's opponents Yeni Malatyaspor, who are one place above them.

Competing in their first top-flight campaign since 1976-77, Giresunspor have struggled to find their form in front of goal, scoring only seven times in 12 league matches, the fewest in the division.

They have, however, found the net in all six previous matches against Yeni Malatyaspor, including a 1-1 draw on home soil in their last meeting in April 2017.

Keles will be hoping that his side can put together a decent run to move away from danger and a victory for the Cotanaklar this weekend would see them climb out of the bottom four.

Yeni Malatyaspor, meanwhile, suffered their eighth Super Lig defeat of the season when they were beaten 3-1 at home against in-form Istanbul Basaksehir earlier this month.

Marius Sumudica's side have now lost five of their seven league games on home soil so far this season, conceding 16 goals in the process which is more than any other team in the division.

Away from home, there has been less goalmouth action in games involving the Tigers of the East, who have scored only three times and have conceded six from their five matches on the road.

With three challenging encounters against Galatasaray, Konyaspor and Alanyaspor to come in the next few weeks, a victory for Malatyaspor on Saturday could be important if they are to avoid slipping into the relegation zone.

Team News

Giresunspor midfielder Hamidou Traore – who was sent off against Sivasspor last time out – is suspended, with Joey Pelupessy the most likely candidate to come into the starting lineup as a result.

Brazilian centre-back Douglas will also miss out this weekend due to injury, which could see Mamadou Diarra start alongside Alexis Perez in the heart of the defence, shielding goalkeeper Okan Kocuk.

Attacking midfielder Fousseni Diabate is expected to play in the number 10 role in behind central striker Souleymane Doukara.

As for Yeni Malatyaspor, former Sunderland midfielder Didier N'Dong is suspended following an accumulation of yellow cards, while Benjamin Tetteh is ruled out until January due to injury.

Sumudica is set to stick with a 3-5-2 formation, which will likely see Mustafa Eskihellac and Karim Hafez operating as wing-backs, whipping in crosses for strikers Kubilay Kanatsizkus and Adem Buyuk.

Giresunspor possible starting lineup:
Kocuk; Yavru, Perez, Diarra, Behich; Flavio, Pelupessy; Serginho, Diabate, Sulemanov; Doukara

Yeni Malatyaspor possible starting lineup:
Ozbir; Kaya, Haddadi, Ciftpinar; Eskihellac, Chouiar, Nshimirimana, Aabid, Hafez; Kanatsizkus, Buyuk

We say: Giresunspor 1-1 Yeni Malatyaspor

Both Giresunspor and Yeni Malatyaspor will view this fixture as a winnable game and one they will be desperate to claim three points from to move away from danger.

However, with little to separate these two sides, a score draw could be on the cards at the Cotanak Stadyumu.

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