Preview: Fenerbahce vs. Altay - prediction, team news, lineups

Fenerbahce are aiming to break into the Turkish Super Lig top four on Wednesday, when they welcome a struggling Altay side to the Ulker Stadyumu Fenerbahce Sukru Saracoglu.

The visitors are currently on a seven-game losing run in all competitions, and sitting 18th they are three points away from safety, while Wednesday's hosts are only one point away from fourth.

Match preview

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Ismail Kartal began his reign at Fenerbache last time out against Antalyaspor, and after Serdar Dursun gave the away side a second-half lead, Dogukan Sinik denied Kartal his first win by equalising for Antalyaspor nine minutes from full time.

This week's hosts will be hoping to create more chances in front of goal, having only registered two shots on target out of a total four chances in that draw, but in front of their home crowd they will want more in the attacking third.

One of Fenerbahce's downfalls this season may be that they have conceded a few too many goals, with four of the five teams above them in the table holding stronger defensive records, but it has been a season of fine margins so far that Kartal will be looking to turn in their favour.

Four of the six league matches that they have lost during this campaign have only been by a one-goal difference, and so if they start turning those sort of games into draws, those few more points will add up throughout the rest of the season and could be a key influence on getting into the top four.

Fenerbahce will be confident about collecting all three points on Wednesday as they have a decent home record in their 10 matches on their own patch so far, only tasting defeat twice in Istanbul.

In comparison, Altay need to turn their fortunes around for the better if they are to secure survival this season, and they will hope that new manager Mert Nobre will help them achieve that.

Nobre was working in the role of technical director at the football club this season but has had a switch of roles this month, taking charge of his first game last time out against Alanyaspor.

That outing did not quite go as well as Altay would have hoped, losing 2-0 against the side pushing for fourth spot, extending their run without a win in the Super Lig since September.

Failing to get on the scoresheet last time out also means that Altay have not found the back of the net in their last four matches in all competitions, another aspect Nobre will need to improve quickly.

Fenerbahce won the reverse fixture between these two sides in August, when two quick-fire goals from Ferdi Kadioglu and Enner Valencia secured a 2-0 win for the away side on that day.

Team News

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Mergim Berisha and Altay Bayindir are nearing a return to action after being sidelined for a over a month with injuries, but neither are likely to feature on Wednesday with the game coming too soon.

Mert Hakan Yandas is certain to be absent from Fenerbahce's squad and will continue to be so for the next few weeks as he starts his recovery on a muscle injury.

Striker Dursun started just his sixth league game for Fenerbahce last time out, but he is likely to lead the line from the start again on Wednesday, having netted five goals in 16 appearances.

Gabon international Andre Poko is currently away in the Africa Cup of Nations so unavailable to Altay, and the midfielder looks set to remain in Cameroon past the group stages having helped his nation to remain unbeaten in their first two matches.

Serge Aka and Nurettin Kucukdeniz remain sidelined for this week's visitors, but there are no new injury or suspension concerns for Nobre to deal with.

Fenerbahce possible starting lineup:
Ozer; Kadioglu, Kim, Aziz, Osayi-Samuel; Sosa, Zajc; Ozil, Kaveci, Rossi; Dursun

Altay possible starting lineup:
Lis; Naderi, Akca, Thiam, Thaciano; Gulselam, Yildirim; Pinares, Rodriguez, Kappel; Bamba

We say: Fenerbahce 2-1 Altay

With both managers in the dugout in the early stages of their new roles, both teams are expected to go for the win which could make for an open games.

Fenerbahce have the superior quality and that should see them pick up all three points, but Nobre will want to see his side be more adventurous in the final third and finally score a long-awaited goal.

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