Preview: Altay vs. Yeni Malatyaspor - prediction, team news, lineups

In a crucial relegation scrap in the Super Lig, Yeni Malatyaspor will visit Altay on Saturday afternoon.

Both sides currently occupy a relegation position, with Yeni Malatyaspor propping up the division, while Altay sit six points off safety.

Match preview

With their Super Lig status hanging by a thin thread, Yeni Malatyaspor ended a run of 17 league matches without a victory last time out.

In fact, the triumph over Adana Demirspor on Saturday was their first victory of any kind since early December, while their last league win came all the way back in mid-October.

A desperate situation for the side from Malatya, the second tier beckons for the Tigers of the East, unless they can muster up a miraculous recovery between now and the end of the campaign.

Their poor league form has seen Yeni Malatyaspor stoop to the bottom of the Super Lig, with the gap between themselves and safety now sitting at 12 points.

While their route to survival is only half the deficit of Saturday's opponents, Altay's position in the league is equally perilous.

Two wins in their last 14 outings has seen Altay slip into trouble and while their current form reads as just one defeat in five, relegation remains a real possibility.

To add to their woes, only two sides in the Super Lig boast a worse home record than Altay, with Saturday's clash at the Alsancak Mustafa Denizli Stadyumu a perfect chance to put that record right.

If Altay are to do just that, they will have to overcome a three-match winless run against Yeni Malatyaspor, with their last home victory against this weekend's opposition coming in March 2012 – a stretch of 10 years.

Team News

Whereas injuries have stayed at bay in recent weeks for Altay, the hosts will be without defender Mohammad Naderi, who misses the clash with a one-match suspension.

Having been sent off in last weekend's 0-0 draw against Fatih Karagumruk, Naderi is likely to be replaced by Tolga Unlu at left-back.

At the opposite end of the pitch, Deniz Kadah will be the man tasked with getting the goals to lead Altay to three points.

Mounir Chouiar was the man who netted the goal that won Yeni Malatyaspor their first three points in over five months last weekend, and the winger will operate on the left flank once more.

In terms of absences, Yeni Malatyaspor are without three players for their trip to Altay, with Sadik Ciftpinar also serving a suspension for a red card.

Kenan Ozer is nursing a muscle injury and is likely to miss a number of weeks, whereas Stephen Mallan is suffering with a hernia problem.

Altay possible starting lineup:
Lis; Unlu, Akca, Bjorkander, Karayel; Thaciano, Pinares, Poko; Rodriguez, Kadah, Kappel

Yeni Malatyaspor possible starting lineup:
Ozbir; Zeffane, Haddadi, Campi, Hafez; Okechukwu, Nshimirimana, Cagiran; Eskihellac, Chouiar, Dicko

We say: Altay 2-0 Yeni Malatyaspor

Three points for either side will be crucial should they wish to survive in the division, with a defeat likely to condemn the other to the drop.

Altay boast the home advantage and while it has not always helped them this season, expect the hosts to take points against the league's bottom side.

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