Preview: Goztepe SK vs. Sivasspor - prediction, team news, lineups

Goztepe SK will be aiming for a fourth consecutive victory in all competitions when they host Sivasspor in the Turkish Super Lig on Wednesday.

Goz Goz are 16th in the table having moved out of the relegation zone in recent weeks thanks to their good form, while the Braves are 10th in the standings.

Match preview

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Goztepe came from behind to win 2-1 against bottom of the table Yeni Malatyaspor on Friday, with Berkan Emir and Lourency getting on the scoresheet.

Having beaten Antalyaspor 4-0 five days earlier, it was the first time this season that the Izmir-based outfit had secured back-to-back league victories, having won only three of their first 19 matches.

Nonetheless, Nestor El Maestro's side are only outside of the relegation zone by virtue of beating 17th-place Kasimpasa earlier in the season, so they are not out of trouble yet.

Furthermore, Goztepe have scored the fewest goals on home turf in the Super Lig this season, netting just 10 times in 11 games at the Gursel Aksel Stadium.

Sivasspor boss Riza Calimbay began his managerial career at Goztepe in 2001 and has gone on to manage a total of 13 clubs – this is his second spell in Sivas.

The 58-year-old's current side have won just one of their last four games but equally have lost only two of their last 13, leaving them four points behind the top four.

The Braves drew 1-1 against Trabzonspor on Saturday, becoming only the sixth side to take points off the runaway leaders this season.

Sivasspor have won three of their last four away matches, while only three clubs in the Super Lig have conceded fewer goals this season.

These two sides played out a 2-2 draw earlier in the campaign, while Sivasspor won a thrilling game 5-3 on their visit to the Gursel Aksel Stadium last season.

Team News

Goztepe captain Halil Akbunar received his fourth yellow card of the season against Yeni Malatyaspor, meaning he is suspended for Wednesday's game.

Defender Dino Arslanagic is back available again after serving his own ban and should slot straight into the back three.

January loan signing Francois Moubandje will be pushing to make his debut after starting on the bench on Friday, while fellow new arrival Oussama Tannane remains sidelined with an ankle issue.

Sivasspor are currently short in the centre of midfield, with Hakan Arslan and Fredrik Ulvestad injured and Faycal Fajr away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Max-Alain Gradel is also at the Africa Cup of Nations so Erdogan Yesilyurt is likely to continue on the right wing.

Centre-back Dimitris Goutas missed the draw against Trabzonspor through illness and is expected to be absent again; Samba Camara should deputise in defence once more.

Goztepe SK possible starting lineup:
Egribayat; Arslanagic, Nukan, Angel; Alici, Nwobodo, Aydogdu, Emir; Lourency, Ndiaye, Baku

Sivasspor possible starting lineup:
Vural; Oguz, Osmanpasa, Camara, Ciftci; Yigitir; Yesilyurt, Cofie, Kesgin, Henrique; James

We say: Goztepe SK 0-0 Sivasspor

We think a tight game should be in store between two sides who have proven hard to beat of late. The statistics point towards a low-scoring match too, so we are predicting a goalless draw that the hosts will probably be slightly happier with.

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