English
Español
Français
Português
Deutsch
Italiano
NederlandTrabzonspor will be aiming to collect a sixth consecutive victory in all competitions when they play host to Kayserispor on Friday.
The visitors, meanwhile, can extend their unbeaten run to five games across league and cup competitions with a positive result.
Match preview
© Reuters
For the runaway leaders, it seems to be a question of when not if they will be crowned Super Lig champions for the seventh time in their history.
With 36 points left to play for, Trabzonspor enjoy a 14-point cushion over second-placed Konyaspor after losing just one league game all season.
After losing 2-1 away to Antalyaspor on December 11, Trabzonspor have embarked on a remarkable unbeaten run that has seen them avoid defeat in their previous 12 matches in all competitions.
Seemingly driven to win their first league title in 38 years in style, Trabzonspor picked up a fifth consecutive competitive victory with a 4-0 away win over Alanyaspor last weekend.
An Anthony Nwakaeme brace followed by strikes from Andreas Cornelius and Dorukhan Tokoz ensured they swept past Alanyaspor, and they will be looking to edge closer to the title with another win on Friday.
Meanwhile, Kayserispor enter Friday's contest in ninth position and with six points separating them from the top four, they will believe that they are firmly in the hunt for a European qualification spot.
They are on an upward trajectory after winning three of their previous four matches in all competitions, including a 2-1 home victory against Giresunspor last time out.
Kayserispor drew first blood in that contest courtesy of Mario Gavranovic's opener before Mert Cetin doubled his side's advantage in first-half stoppage time.
They survived a nervy finish after Magomed Suleymanov pulled a goal back for Giresunspor, and following that victory, they will now turn their attention to a daunting away game against the league leaders.
Friday's visitors struggle on their travels with one away league win to their name this term, which suggests that a draw is perhaps the best that Kayserispor can hope for on Friday.
- D
- D
- W
- W
- W
- W
- D
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- D
- W
- L
- W
- D
- W
- W
- L
- W
- W
- D
- W
Team News
Stefano Denswil and Abdulkadir Omur are both ruled out after testing positive for COVID-19, while Marek Hamsik and Tokoz will miss the game due to injury issues.
With Tokoz absent, Berat Ozdemir will come into the centre of midfield for Friday's contest.
Cornelius scored his 12th league goal of the season last weekend, and he will be aiming to add to that tally when he starts upfront against Kayserispor.
As for the visitors, Emrah Bassan will be absent due to a hamstring problem, while a positive COVID-19 test will prevent Mustafa Pektemek from participating on Friday.
Ibrahim Akdag was withdrawn in the first half against Giresunspor, with Joseph Attamah expected to replace Akdag in the starting lineup.
Kayserispor's main goal threat will come from Mame Thiam and Gavranovic, who have scored 17 league goals between them this term.
Trabzonspor possible starting lineup:
Cakir; Peres, Vitor Hugo, Kaplan, Puchacz; Ozdemir, Siopis; Visca, Bakasetas, Nwakaeme; Cornelius
Kayserispor possible starting lineup:
Bayazit; Bulut, Hosseini, Cetin, Carole; Attamah, Parmak; Cardoso, Bertolacci, Thiam; Gavranovic
We say: Trabzonspor 2-1 Kayserispor
Yet to taste defeat at home in the league this season, Trabzonspor enter Friday's contest as favourites, and we think that they will prevail against a Kayserispor side that have struggled away from home with the hosts aiming to continue their fine run of form as they close in on the Super Lig title.
