Fighting for a top-four finish in the Turkish Super Lig, Samsunspor are set to host Eyupspor at Stadyum Samsun for a 'six-pointer' on Sunday.
The Kirmizi Simsekler will be hoping to build on their win last time out, while the promoted side will be looking to get back on track after consecutive losses.
Match preview
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Thomas Reis's Samsunspor are clinging on to their European hopes in the top flight after they ended a five-game winless run that featured four straight defeats with a victory last weekend.
On Saturday, the Kirmizi Simsekler came from behind to beat Bodrum FK 2-1 on the road thanks to first-half goals from Oliver Ntcham and Landry Dimata, but the manager will be keen to wipe out the lapses of concentration that saw his team concede with just four minutes on the clock.
That victory kept Reis's side third in the table with 54 points, two ahead of fourth-placed Besiktas and four in front of their fifth-placed opponents with four games to play.
As they search for some stability at the business end of the season, the hosts would do well to avoid looking at their home record that includes three losses from their last four at Stadyum Samsun, and fans would be forgiven for having doubts about their team's chances of securing back-to-back wins for the first time since February.
If Samsunspor can defy their current form and prove that they are back on track with a victory on Sunday, then they could extend their lead over Besiktas to five points, but defeat could see them drop down to fourth and allow their opponents to reduce the gap to a tense one point.
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Meanwhile, Arda Turan's Eyupspor have enjoyed a remarkable campaign after being crowned TFF First League champions in 2023-24, and a win this weekend would dramatically boost their hopes of making the top four.
That being said, the promoted club have hit a stumbling block having narrowly lost 1-0 to Rizespor on April 20 before being thrashed 5-1 by top-of-the-table Galatasaray last time out.
Dropping six points across their two most recent matches has left Turan's men fifth, and while they are just two points behind Besiktas and four behind their hosts, the Black Eagles have a game in hand.
To make matters worse, the visitors could be disheartened by the fact that they have triumphed in just one of their last six away games ahead of this weekend's clash, though they could draw confidence from winning the reverse fixture 3-0 back in December.
Victory on Sunday would be enough for Eyupspor to climb up to fourth depending on results elsewhere, but a third loss on the bounce would give Istanbul Basaksehir the chance to drop them down to sixth.
Team News
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Samsunspor may be without right-sided defender Zeki Yavru on Sunday after he was forced off through injury against Bodrum, and Reis may shift to a back four as he did last weekend when the captain was substituted.
Reis's backline could feature Kingsley Schindler, Lubomir Satka and Marc Bola, and given that centre-back Rick Van Drongelen is suspended for accumulating yellow cards, Emre Cift could start in defence as he did against Galatasaray in early April.
Joining the XI in Yavru's absence could be winger Arbnor Muja, and the forward would support Landry Dimata and Emre Kilinc up top.
As for Eyupspor, they will be missing left-back Umut Meras, who was taken off with an injury last time out, so expect to see Caner Erkin start alongside Luccas Claro, Robin Yalcin and Ruben Vezo in Turan's backline.
In the centre of the park, Yalcin Kayan will look to provide a platform for his teammates, and the midfielder will form a trio with Emre Akbaba and Melih Kabasakal behind forwards Emre Mor, Mame Thiam and Prince Ampem.
Samsunspor possible starting lineup:
Kocuk; Schindler, Satka, Cift, Bola; Yuksel, Ntcham, Holse; Muja, Dimata, Kilinc
Eyupspor possible starting lineup:
Ozer; Vezo, Yalcin, Claro, Meras; Kayan; Mor, Kabasakal, Akbaba, Ampem; Thiam
We say: Samsunspor 1-1 Eyupspor
While neither side are in the strongest form ahead of this weekend, they will be motivated to make this a close-fought clash given that a European place is at stake.
Additionally, Samsunspor have been poor at home and Eyupspor have struggled on the road, so both clubs may have to walk away disappointed with their share of the spoils on Sunday.
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