Preview: Giresunspor vs. Gaziantep - prediction, team news, lineups

Giresunspor will look to continue their recent revival when they welcome Gaziantep to the Cotanak Stadium on Monday.

The hosts are aiming for a third consecutive victory, while the visitors will be hoping to end a six-game winless run in all competitions.

Match preview

After beating Goztepe 3-1 to end a run of six matches without a win, Hakan Keles took his side to the Caykur Didi stadium to face Caykur Rizespor last weekend.

The visitors fell behind in the 14th minute courtesy of Joel Pohjanpalo's opener, but Giresunspor restored parity in first-half stoppage time thanks to Chiquinho's spot kick.

With momentum in their favour, the visitors swiftly took the lead in the second half through Hamidou Traore, and they held firm to claim back-to-back victories.

Despite a couple of positive results, Hakan Keles's side cannot afford to rest on their laurels with just three points separating them from the drop zone.

After conceding in each of their last eight home matches in all competitions, Keles will be challenging his team to keep a clean sheet on Monday.

Meanwhile, the visitors enter Monday's contest eight points clear of the relegation zone in 11th place after accumulating 37 points from their 28 league games.

Since winning promotion to the top flight in 2019, Gaziantep have finished in eighth and ninth place in their last two campaigns, and their aim for the remainder of the season will be to clinch another top-half finish.

If they are to achieve a top 10 position, Gaziantep need to halt their current slide after collecting just two points from their last five league games.

The latest of those points came last weekend, when Gaziantep drew 2-2 at home against Hatayaspor, with Alexandru Maxim grabbing both goals for the hosts.

Having won just one away league game and collected only six points on their travels this season, confidence may be at a premium in the Gaziantep dressing room.

Team News

Zeki Yavru is expected to miss out through injury, while Arda Kilic is a long-term absentee for the hosts.

After coming into the starting lineup for last weekend's contest, Hayrullah Bilazer is expected to keep his place at right-back for Monday's encounter.

Keles could bring Magomed-Shapi Suleymanov back into the side, which could result in Muhammed Gumuskaya dropping down to the bench.

As for the visitors, they have a number of injury concerns, with Alexander Merkel, Hamza Mendyl and Ibrahim Pehlivan all expected to miss out.

Gaziantep could make a couple of changes, with Stelios Kitsiou and Muhammet Demir expected to come into the starting lineup.

Those alterations could see Maxim move back into midfield, with Demir and Joao Figueiredo set to feature in the front two.

Giresunspor possible starting lineup:
Kocuk; Bilazer, Diarra, Perez, Behich; Flavio, Traore; Suleymanov, Chiquinho, Serginho; Nayir

Gaziantep possible starting lineup:
Bozan; Djilobodji, Tosca, Caulker; Kitsiou, Maxim, Erdogan, Soyalp, Sagal; Demir, Figueiredo

We say: Giresunspor 2-1 Gaziantep

Despite sitting in a lower position in the table than their opponents, Giresunspor will enter Monday's contest with an air of confidence following back-to-back victories, and we think that they will claim another win when they face a Gaziantep side that are struggling to pick up points.

Previews by email