Preview: Sivasspor vs. Trabzonspor - prediction, team news, lineups

Super Lig leaders Trabzonspor are currently 10 points clear of second-placed Konyaspor, and they will be looking to add to that lead on Saturday, when they travel to face Sivasspor.

The hosts are on a good run of form in the league, only losing once in their last seven outings, and three points this weekend could take the team to within one point of fourth spot.

Match preview

© Reuters

Riza Calimbay's side are in their best form of the campaign, and a 1-0 win against Konyaspor last time out ensured that they bounced back from a disappointing defeat at the end of December.

Leke James scored his first goal of the season to seal the three points against second place, and Calimbay will be eager for his side to replicate that performance this Saturday.

In order to do so, Sivasspor need to keep a clean sheet against the table toppers, who are the division's top scorers, having netted 37 times in 20 matches.

The home team have drawn six of their 10 games at the Yeni Sivas 4 Eylul Stadyumu, and to climb the league and go in pursuit of a Europa Conference League spot, Sivasspor will need to start turning some of those draws into maximum points.

However, despite dropping points on their own patch by only collecting one point over three, Sivasspor have only lost one game at home this season, which came on the opening day, suggesting that they can make it difficult for Trabzonspor.

Abdullah Avci's side have got back to their usual form this season after suffering their first defeat one month ago, but since then Trabzonspor have won four out of five in all competitions.

Within that run, the team have kept four clean sheets and goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir gained his eighth clean sheet of the league campaign last time out, as Andreas Cornelius's 23rd-minute strike was enough to secure a 1-0 win against Yeni Malatyaspor.

Sivasspor are expected to pose a bigger challenge to Trabzonspor than 20th-placed Yeni Malatyaspor did last Friday, but the visitors will still be looking to dominate possession of the ball as they have done so in the majority of their matches this campaign.

With 18 games to go in the Turkish Super Lig, and a 10-point gap between themselves and Konyaspor, Trabzonspor are closing in on their first league title since 1984, so every win from here on in will feel like a massive step towards that feat.

Trabzonspor survived a late scare from Sivasspor in the last meeting between these two sides at the beginning of the season, with Avci's team coming out on top as 2-1 winners thanks to goals from Anastasios Bakasetas and Anthony Nwakaeme.

Team News

© Reuters

Max Gradel and Faycal Fajr are unavailable on Saturday as they are away on international duty in the Africa Cup of Nations, and Sivasspor have some injuries to add to their absentee list.

Ziya Erdal continues to be sidelined with a muscle injury, while Jorge Felix and Fredrik Ulvestad are nearing a return to action but Saturday's match may have come too soon for the midfield pair.

Hakan Arslan made his return to the side last time out against Konyaspor, after being forced off just before half time against Caykur Rizespor on December 22, and he is likely to remain in the starting 11 for the hosts this weekend.

New Trabzonspor signing Jean Kouassi will wait to make his debut for the club as he is currently competing in the Africa Cup of Nations, as well as Cape Verde international Djaniny.

Edgar Ie and Gervinho remain sidelined with injuries that will see them miss the remainder of the campaign, while Serkan Asan and Anders Trondsen are pencilled in to make their recoveries at the end of this month.

Ismail Koybasi has come into the back four in place of the injured Trondsen and Koybasi will continue his role at left-back, with Nwakaeme also expected to retain his place after coming in for Djaniny.

Sivasspor possible starting lineup:
Vural; Ciftci, Osmanpasa, Goutas, Oguz; Henrique, Cofie, Arslan, Yesilyurt; Kesgin; James

Trabzonspor possible starting lineup:
Cakir; Koybasi, Denswil, Turkmen, Peres; Hamsik, Tokoz; Nwakaeme, Bakasetas, Omur; Cornelius

We say: Sivasspor 1-1 Trabzonspor

Both teams are in good and similar form heading into this weekend's encounter, which should help Sivasspor take a point off the league leaders, gaining confidence from their victory against second-placed Konyaspor.

Trabzonspor are expected to dominate the ball but Sivasspor will be looking to quickly attack when they regain possession, and with one of the best defensive records in the division, the hosts should be able to limit Trabzonspor in front of goal.

Previews by email