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

Hatayspor will be hoping to break into the European places this Sunday when they host Caykur Rizespor at the New Hatay Stadium.

Meanwhile, the visitors could potentially get themselves out of the relegation zone with three points as the two teams currently find themselves at contrasting ends of the table.

Match preview

Hatayspor have everything to play for this weekend, as a victory has the potential to see them push into the top four, depending on other results across the Super Lig.

Right now, they sit in sixth place and just goal difference is keeping the club from breaking into the European places following an impressive first half of the season.

That was not helped by their most recent result, which was a heavy 6-0 defeat against Alanyaspor, which included three goals in the space of just five minutes during the second half.

The loss followed an impressive 4-2 victory against Galatasaray, with a lack of consistency having been the problem for the squad this season, which has seen them win 11 times, while also losing nine.

This is something that the group will be looking to iron out during the run-in for this season, and that could begin this weekend against a team inside the relegation zone.

Rizespor were defeated 2-0 the last time they faced Hatayspor, but it took until the final 10 minutes of the game for them to get those goals.

However, the visitors do head into this match on the back of a victory which saw them fight from behind against Antalyaspor with Joel Pohjanpalo and Gokhan Gonul getting on the scoresheet.

It was a crucial three points against the team directly above them in the league table, and it helped to pull the club one step closer to safety.

Right now there are just three points separating them and 16th place, which means a victory on Sunday could take them out of the bottom four depending on other results.

That is something that Hamza Hamzaoglu shall be hoping to achieve, although it would take an upset against Hatayspor to make it happen.

Team News

The hosts are without Munir, Ayoub El Kaabi and Adama Traore at the moment due to the Africa Cup of Nations, which is something that the club have been adjusting to recently.

Meanwhile, Burak Camoglu is also unavailable due to a muscular problem, though he is expected to be back at some stage this month, which could see him as an option if fit enough.

For Rizespor, they will be able to welcome back Sebastian Holmen after he served a one-match suspension following an accumulation of yellow cards.

While Yusuf Sari is still waiting to make his debut for the club following a transfer from Trabzonspor, which could potentially take place on Sunday.

Hatayspor possible starting lineup:
Yigiter; Corekci, Kurucuk, Oksuz, Adekugbe; Kamara, Ribeiro, Ergun, Lobzhanidze; Diouf, Saint-Louis

Caykur Rizespor possible starting lineup:
Cetin; Gonul, Holmen, Ay, Sertel; Boldrin, Baiano, Sabo, Potuk; Hummet, Pohjanpalo

We say: Hatayspor 3-0 Caykur Rizespor

Caykur Rizespor might have picked up three points in midweek, but we expect it to be the home side who do so on this occasion.

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