Kasimpasa and Trabzonspor will conclude round 34 of the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig with a crucial encounter on Monday, as the visitors look to keep their slim European hopes alive.
The Black Sea Storm are currently seven points adrift of the final European spot with just five matches remaining, while the Apaches sit three points behind Trabzonspor.
Match preview
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Kasimpasa got back to winning ways last weekend with an impressive 3-1 victory over Sivasspor, halting a brief two-match winless run and making it three wins from their last five league outings.
While they have not quite hit the heights of last season's fifth-place finish, the Apaches are 14 points away from matching last season's 56 points tally with five matches left to play, though that seems a task too big given their form this season.
However, they have been tough customers at home under Burak Yilmaz, having gone unbeaten in their last six league games on home soil, winning four and drawing two, and will be looking to build on that momentum.
Kasimpasa have held their own against Trabzonspor in recent years, winning two and losing just once in their last four encounters, including a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
A top-half finish will be the objective for Yilmaz's men, and three points here would certainly boost those hopes.
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Trabzonspor, on the other hand, head into this game fresh from a thrilling 4-3 win over Alanyaspor, in a game they showed plenty of attacking quality, though head coach Fatih Tekke was left frustrated by lapses at the back.
The Black Sea Storm are in a rich vein of form, having won four on the bounce in all competitions, including a Turkish Cup semi-final victory over Goztepe to set up a final showdown with Galatasaray.
Currently seventh in the table, Trabzonspor still have faint hopes of breaking into the top four, especially with teams above them stuttering.
Their away form has been patchy all season, but two wins from their last three league games on the road suggest they may have turned a corner just in time.
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Team News
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Kasimpasa will be without Nicholas Opoku and Sadik Ciftpinar due to injury, which means Taylan Aydin is expected to start in defence.
Aytac Kara is set to come into the midfield in place of the injured Gokhan Gul, while Haris Hajradinovic has completed his suspension.
Trabzonspor, meanwhile, are likely to hand Danylo Sikan a start in attack with Denis Dragus ruled out through injury.
Ozan Tufan is expected to replace the injured Tim Jabol-Folcarelli in midfield, while Pedro Malheiro's suspension will likely see Arif Bosluk deputise at right-back.
Onuralp Cevikkan, Huseyin Turkmen, Serdar Saatci and Ahmet Yildirim all remain sidelined, although none were expected to start.
Kasimpasa possible starting lineup:
Gianniotis; Ozcan, Aydin, Piatkowski; Winck, Hajradinovic, Kara, Ouanes, Rodrigues; Costa, Fall
Trabzonspor possible starting lineup:
Cakir; Eskihellac, Batahov, Savic, Bosluk; Lundstram, Tufan; Zubkov, Sikan, Visca; Banza
We say: Kasimpasa 1-1 Trabzonspor
Although Trabzonspor arrive this clash in strong form, Kasimpasa have been impressive at home under Yilmaz, and the Black Sea Storm's defensive lapses remain a concern, which is why we are predicting a draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
