Preview: Konyaspor vs. Kayserispor - prediction, team news, lineups

A clash of the mid-table sides takes place this Saturday afternoon when Konyaspor will welcome the visit of Kayserispor to the Torku Arena.

Both sides will be keen to pick up three points and distance themselves from an ever-growing list of teams involved in a cutthroat relegation battle.

Match preview

Five points separate Kasimpasa in 19th to Kayserispor in 11th, Anadolu Yildizi keen to open up a gap between them and the eight clubs in danger below them.

It has been a shaky start to the campaign for Kayserispor, who have picked up only three victories from their opening nine matches, whilst also failing to win their last trio of Super Lig fixtures.

Defeat in their previous match against Alanyaspor provided one of the division's games of the season so far, with Kayserispor beaten 6-3 in a nine-goal thriller.

That defeat was the second time this season Kayserispor had shipped three goals or more, meaning they now have the second-worst defence in the top flight.

Nonetheless, Hikmet Karaman's side have enjoyed some high points themselves this season, not least during their 3-0 triumph over Turkish giants Galatasaray back in September.

The statement win had lifted them into the top 10 of the table, yet a run of three matches without a victory since has seen them slump back down into the bottom half.

Another side with a similar winless streak are Konyaspor, who last tasted victory during their 3-1 triumph over Altay SK five matches ago.

Despite being starved of victories lately, Konyaspor have actually only been beaten once in their previous five matches, with Galatasaray breaking up what had been a run of four consecutive draws last time out.

In fact, the 1-0 defeat to the 22-times Turkish champions was their maiden loss of the campaign, having gone unbeaten for their first eight matches this season.

Avoiding defeat once again could be on the cards for Konyaspor, given their impressive head-to-head record against Kayserispor, with Ilhan Palut's team having lost one of their previous seven meetings.

It is a similar story for Konyaspor when playing at home against Kayserispor, who have avoided defeat in six of the last seven encounters against Anadolu Yildizi at the Torku Arena.

Team News

Mame Thiam has impressed for Kayserispor since being brought in from Fenerbahce during the summer, netting three goals in six Super Lig matches, and the Senegalese winger will be crucial to their attacking hopes on Saturday.

However, Kayserispor's problem this season has been conceding goals, and their already shaky defence will be without Ugur Demirok, who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Preventing another flurry of goals will be a job given to goalkeeper Silviu Lung Jr, who has kept one clean sheet for Saturday's visitors since the opening day of the season.

Similarly to their opponents, Konyaspor will have close to a full side to choose from, with Paul-Jose M'Poku (muscle) the only absentee for the hosts.

Konyaspor boast the second-best defensive record in the division and that is in no small part to the efforts of goalkeeper Ibrahim Sehic, who is yet to concede more than two goals in any league game this season.

Whilst they have been strong at the back, the 2017 Turkish Cup winners have struggled going forward, and Sokol Cikalleshi will be looking to add to his poor return of just one league goal so far.

Konyaspor possible starting lineup:
Sehic; Skubic, Calik, Bardakci, Guilherme; Gurler, Ulgun, Hadziahmetovic, Cekici; Rahmanovic, Cikalleshi

Kayserispor possible starting lineup:
Lung; Bulut, Kolovetsios, Hosseini, Subasi, Carole; Bassan, Akdag, Attamah, Thiam; Gavranovic

We say: Konyaspor 2-1 Kayserispor

Based off their early season form, both teams should steer clear of the drop come the end of the campaign, with an outside chance of targeting a European spot possible if they can put together a strong enough run.

Rather evenly matched on paper, expect a tight encounter with one goal separating the two teams on Saturday.