Kasimpasa and Goztepe SK head into their final fixture of the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig season, hoping to steer clear of each other in the standings.
Both teams are tied on 47 points after 35 matches played, though the visitors are one spot ahead in eighth due to a superior goal difference.
Match preview
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Kasimpasa showed resilience in their 2-2 draw away at Gaziantep last time out, fighting back from two goals down to earn a point.
That result summed up much of their recent form under Burak Yilmaz, who has guided the Apaches to six wins, four draws and five defeats since taking charge in February, but while the former striker has brought a degree of stability, it has still been a disappointing season overall.
Having finished in the top five last term, Kasimpasa are currently on 47 points and will fall short of their 56-point tally from 2023-24 – nevertheless, Yilmaz is likely to view this as a transitional phase, with Friday's fixture offering the chance to make a statement ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
This game also carries added emotional weight, as Kasimpasa were thrashed 5-0 by Goztepe twice this season, once in the league and once in the Turkish Cup.
With pride on the line, Yilmaz and his players will be desperate to respond, but recent home form suggests it will not be easy, as the Istanbul side have won just one of their last four home matches, drawing one and losing two.
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For Goztepe, their 2-0 defeat at home to a rotated Galatasaray side last weekend extended their winless run to three games, a draw and two consecutive defeats, regardless it has been a commendable first season back in the topflight.
Despite fading slightly in the closing weeks, the Izmir-based side can reflect positively on their return to the Super Lig, and their solid home form has laid the groundwork for survival and mid-table respectability, though fatigue appears to have set in as the campaign draws to a close.
Goztepe's away record, however, has been far less convincing, having managed just two wins on the road all season, suffering 10 defeats and drawing the other four.
Given that, their hopes of securing a third win away from home rest on rediscovering some of the energy that saw them breeze past Kasimpasa twice earlier in the year.
Team News
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Yasin Ozcan is expected to step in for the injured Kamil Piatkowski at centre-back, and with Kevin Rodrigues and Claudio Winck both suspended, Jhon Espinoza and Mortadha Ben Ouanes are set to feature as the full-backs for Kasimpasa.
Sadik Ciftpinar, Josip Brekalo and Antonin Barak are also sidelined through injury, though none were in line to start.
With Djalma Silva and Ismail Koybasi both sidelined through injury, Lasse Nielsen is expected to start at left wing-back for Goztepe.
Isaac Solet and Dogan Erdogan are also unavailable, paving the way for Ahmed Ildiz to come into the midfield.
Juan, Victor Hugo and Emircan Secgin remain injured, though none were likely to feature from the start.
Kasimpasa possible starting lineup:
Gianniotis; Espinoza, Opoku, Ozcan, Ouanes; Cafu, Hajradinovic, Kara; Keles, Da Costa, Fall
Goztepe SK possible starting lineup:
Lis; Heliton, Gunter, Bokele; Nielsen, Dennis, Ildiz, Bayrak; Romulo, Tijanic, Kanatsizkus
We say: Kasimpasa 2-2 Goztepe SK
Kasimpasa will be keen to avenge their previous thrashings by Goztepe this season, and with home advantage, they should put up a stronger fight.
However, the visitors will want to end a solid return campaign positively, a close contest is expected, and a draw looks the most likely outcome.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
