MX23RW : Thursday, January 14 16:55:29| >> :600:1990019:1990019:
Dec 24, 2020 at 4pm UK at Ankara 19 Mayis Stadium
AnkaragucuAnkaragucu
0-1
BesiktasBesiktas

Cetin (85')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Vida (61')

Preview: Ankaragucu vs. Besiktas - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Turkish Super Lig clash between Ankaragucu and Besiktas, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Ankaragucu take on Besiktas in the Turkish Super Lig on Thursday, with the visitors aiming to move second in the table with a win.

The hosts, meanwhile, can move outside of the relegation zone by upsetting the odds with a victory.


Match preview

After finishing bottom last season, Ankaragacu were spared relegation after the Turkish Football Federation's decision to scrap demotion for the season due to COVID-19, instead extending the league to 21 teams.

This season, however, four teams will be relegated with the league reduced to 20 teams from next season, so Ankaragacu will need to up their game to remain a top-flight club.

The board appear to realise it, too, having sacked Fuat Capa after a poor start to the campaign saw the club take just two points from their opening seven games.

The players have responded to Mustafa Dalci, though, who has been promoted from assistant manager to head coach, with seven points from his first five games in charge edging Dalci's side closer to escaping the extended relegation zone.

Besiktas midfielder Dorukhan Tokoz in action against Galatasaray in May 2019© Reuters

Besiktas, meanwhile, finished third last season, but failed to progress to the Europa League knockout stages after losing on penalties to Portuguese outfit Rio Ave in the third qualifying round.

Sergin Yalcin's side have displayed very good form of late, though, winning eight of their last ten matches as they look to secure a first domestic title since 2017.

Vincent Aboubakar leads Turkey's top goalscorer chart with eight goals in nine starts, having struck twice in Sunday's 4-0 win against Buyuksehir Belediye Erzurumspor.

Should they defeat struggling Ankaragacu as expected, Yalcin's side will move to within a point of top spot.

Ankaragucu Turkish Super Lig form: LLLWWD

Besiktas Turkish Super Lig form: LWWWLW
Besiktas form (all competitions): WWWLWW


Team News

Ankaragucu are without Michal Pazdan with a muscle injury, while Jonathan Bolingi is still suspended after his red card against Konyaspor.

Ante Kulisic is a doubt for unknown reasons.

Besiktas, meanwhile, are without former Manchester United winger Adam Ljajic, Gokhan Tore and Jermain Lens due to injuries.

Yalcin's namesake Guven Yalcin may have to be patient for a start in attack, with Aboubakar in excellent form.

Ankaragucu possible starting lineup:
Friedrich; Kitsiou, Sarlija, Dikmen, Turan; Lobzhanidze, Pinto, Cankaya, Aygoren, Cekici; Gural

Besiktas possible starting lineup:
Destanoglu; Uysal, Welinton, Vida, Yilmaz; Ghezzal, Mensah, Souza, Hutchinson, Nkdoudou; Aboubakar


SM words green background

We say: Ankaragucu 0-2 Besiktas

We can envisage a comfortable Besiktas victory despite the hosts picking up in recent weeks under their new manager.

Aboubakar should have too much physicality and quality for Ankaragucu to handle.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


ID:427631:cQx

How you voted: Ankaragucu vs Besiktas

Ankaragucu
10.0%
Draw
7.5%
Besiktas
82.5%
40
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Jeremain Lens of Sunderland during the Barclays Premier League match between Sunderland and Swansea City at the Stadium of Light on August 22, 2015 in Sunderland, United Kingdom.
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Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1BesiktasBesiktas17112439211835
2GalatasarayGalatasaray17103434142033
3Fenerbahce16102433201332
4GaziantepGaziantep1787231191231
5AlanyasporAlanyaspor1893629161330
6Hatayspor178452522328
7TrabzonsporTrabzonspor177551920-126
8Fatih KaragumrukKaragumruk176652723424
9AntalyasporAntalyaspor186661925-624
10KonyasporKonyaspor176472421322
11SivassporSivasspor175751921-222
12Istanbul BasaksehirIstanbul176472428-422
13KasimpasaKasimpasa176472027-722
14Yeni MalatyasporYeni M'spor175662123-221
15Caykur RizesporCaykur Rizespor165652128-721
16Goztepe SKGoztepe SK174762120119
17GenclerbirligiGenclerbirligi175481831-1319
18KayserisporKayserispor174491121-1016
19AnkaragucuAnkaragucu1743102027-715
20Denizlispor173591728-1114
21BB ErzurumsporBB Erzurumspor1834111633-1713

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