Preview: Konyaspor vs. Kasimpasa - prediction, team news, lineups

On Friday, Konyaspor will play host to Kasimpasa with the home side looking to bounce back after a run of three consecutive league victories was brought to an end last time out.

The visitors, meanwhile, enter the Super Lig contest off the back of a three-game winless run in all competitions.

Match preview

Konyaspor enter Friday's contest in second place, but they missed the chance to close the gap to Trabzonspor, when they faced the league leaders last weekend.

An Edin Visca brace gave the table-toppers a comfortable advantage and although Sokol Cikalleshi pulled a goal back late on, Konyaspor were unable to salvage anything from the encounter.

The defeat leaves Ilhan Palut's side 12 points adrift of Trabzonspor and even with a game in hand, a first Super Lig title for Konyaspor seems out of reach.

Although a title challenge may be unrealistic, Friday's hosts are still experiencing a successful season as they look set to qualify for European competition for only the third time in their history.

A home contest awaits on Friday and having won nine of their 13 home league matches this season, Konyaspor will be confident of collecting all three points as they look to tighten their grip on second spot.

At the other end of the table, Kasimpasa find themselves embroiled in a relegation battle with only two points separating them and the drop zone.

After suffering consecutive defeats across league and cup competitions, Kasimpasa played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at home to Alanyaspor last weekend.

Wilson Eduardo gave Alanyaspor the lead before the break, but goals from Mamadou Fall and Jackson Muleka turned the game in the favour of the hosts before Efkan Bekiroglu restored parity to ensure that the spoils were shared.

Hopes of a victory on Friday may be low as Kasimpasa have won just two away league games this season with only nine of their 28 points this season resulting from away encounters.

They have been slow starters on their travels this term, having scored only three goals in the first half of Super Lig away matches this season.

Team News

Having missed the previous league game through suspension, Ibrahim Sehic returned to the Konyaspor goal for the Trabzonspor encounter and the goalkeeper will retain his place for Friday's contest.

Despite coming off the bench to score in the 2-1 defeat to Trabzonspor last time out, Cikalleshi may have to settle for a place among the substitutes once again.

Koka is expected to be given the responsibility to lead the line as he looks to add to the four league goals that he has scored this season.

As for the visitors, Valentin Eysseric and Mortadha Ben Ouanes are both available after serving one-match suspensions with the latter expected to come into the starting lineup, while Eysseric may have to settle for a place on the bench.

A foot problem will keep Jeffrey Bruma on the sidelines, while Loret Sadiku is also an injury absentee.

Rayane Aabid had to be withdrawn 37 minutes into his debut on Sunday, and he is set to miss Friday's contest.

Konyaspor possible starting lineup:
Sehic; Skubic, Demirbag, Bardakci, Guilherme; Dikmen, Hadziahmetovic, Rahmanovic; Michalak, Bytyqi, Koka

Kasimpasa possible starting lineup:
Taskiran; Hadergjonaj, Donk, Serbest, Elmali; Haspolat, Hajradinovic, Ben Ouanes; Fall, Engin, Bozok

We say: Konyaspor 2-1 Kasimpasa

Konyaspor usually fare well on home turf and having won nine of their last 11 home games in all competitions, we think that the hosts will prove too strong for Kasimapasa on Friday, although we expect it to be a close-fought contest.

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