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Preview: Caykur Rizespor vs. Konyaspor - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Turkish Super Lig clash between Caykur Rizespor and Konyaspor, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Caykur Rizespor, who sit 10 points adrift of safety, enter Saturday's Super Lig contest against Konyaspor in poor form after winning just one of their last nine matches.

The visitors, meanwhile, are battling it out for second spot, and they have the chance to clinch back-to-back victories at the weekend.


Match preview

With just seven games remaining, the hosts need to make up a 10-point gap if they are to prolong their four-season stay in the top flight.

Caykur Rizespor's task may be an impossible one, but if they are to be relegated then they will want to go down swinging, however, their recent form suggests that may not be the case.

Five of their last six matches have ended in defeat, including their most recent encounter which saw them fall short against Alanyaspor.

Emre Akbaba gave Alanyaspor an early lead before Efecan Karaca struck from the spot on the hour mark to double his side's advantage and although Papiss Cisse pulled a goal back, Caykur Rizepsor were unable to rescue a point.

Despite their recent poor from, Saturday's hosts do have the chance to claim consecutive home victories after they beat the league leaders Trabzonspor 3-2 in their previous home outing.

As for Konyaspor, they are dreaming of reaching next season's Champions League qualifying rounds, but if that dream is to become reality then they must hold onto the second place that they currently occupy.

Fenerbahce are hot on their heels, with two points separating them from Konyaspor, but Saturday's visitors do enter the final seven matches in a rich vein of form after winning three of their last four matches.

Galatasaray were dispatched via a 2-0 scoreline before they emerged victorious from a five-goal thriller against Kayserispor, but they dropped crucial points to Fenerbahce in their last away contest, losing 2-1 to the Yellow Canaries.

However, rather than dwell on that defeat, Konyaspor got their Champions League hopes back on track last time out, as Sokol Cikalleshi, Ogulcan Ulgun and Zymer Bytyqi all netted to guide their team to a 3-0 victory over Goztepe.

The second-placed side now have the chance to claim a league double over Caykur Rizespor after thrashing Saturday's opponents 3-0 in the reverse fixture.

Caykur Rizespor Turkish Super Lig form:
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • L

Konyaspor Turkish Super Lig form:
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W



Team News

After scoring in the defeat to Alanyaspor, Cisse could return to the starting lineup for Saturday's contest.

Gokhan Akkan, meanwhile, has started the last four games in goal for Caykur Rizespor, and he is expected to keep his place between the posts.

There could also be a spot in the starting XI for Fernando Boldrin, who featured as a substitute against Alanyaspor.

The visitors, on the other hand, could name an unchanged lineup for Saturday's encounter following an impressive performance in their last outing.

That would mean that Abdulkerim Bardakci will retain his place in the backline after returning to the side against Goztepe.

Cikalleshi scored his 10th league goal of the season in the 3-0 victory last weekend, and he will now be aiming to score in back-to-back games.

Caykur Rizespor possible starting lineup:
Akkan; Gonul, Holmen, Ponck, Sertel; Fernandes, Phiri; Boyd, Boldrin, Potuk; Cisse

Konyaspor possible starting lineup:
Sehic; Skubic, Demirbag, Bardakci, Guilherme; Hadziahmetovic, Ulgun; Amilton, Cekici, Bytyqi; Cikalleshi


SM words green background

We say: Caykur Rizespor 1-3 Konyaspor

Caykur Rizespor will be looking to draw inspiration from the 3-2 victory that they picked up against the league leaders in their last home outing, but with Konyaspor seeking Champions League qualification, we think that the visitors will showcase their quality to collect all three points.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 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.Over 2.5:data


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Who will win Saturday's Turkish Super Lig clash between Caykur Rizespor and Konyaspor?

Caykur Rizespor
16.7%
Draw
0.0%
Konyaspor
83.3%
6
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rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1TrabzonsporTrabzonspor32219259273272
2Fenerbahce32178756352159
3KonyasporKonyaspor32177852351758
4Istanbul BasaksehirIstanbul321651145311453
5Adana Demirspor321410849331652
6AlanyasporAlanyaspor32157105852652
7BesiktasBesiktas32131184941850
8Hatayspor32146124950-148
9AntalyasporAntalyaspor32138114038247
10Fatih KaragumrukKaragumruk32137123947-846
11KasimpasaKasimpasa32118134947241
12SivassporSivasspor321011114242041
13GaziantepGaziantep32118134144-341
14GalatasarayGalatasaray32118134247-541
15KayserisporKayserispor32118134553-841
16Giresunspor32116153539-439
17Altay3285193348-1529
18Caykur RizesporCaykur Rizespor3285193258-2629
19Goztepe SKGoztepe SK3276193755-1827
20Yeni MalatyasporYeni M'spor3255222353-3020

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