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

Altay are currently on a 13-game winless run in the Turkish Super Lig, losing their last five matches, and so will be looking to turn their fortunes around on Sunday, when they host 10th-placed Alanyaspor.

In comparison, Alanyaspor have also experienced a dip in form, only winning once in the league since November, leaving them sitting four points adrift of fourth spot.

Match preview

Mustafa Denizli's side are placed in 18th position, four points away from safety, but they will have to improve on their recent results to survive the fight from relegation.

Last time out Altay faced Kayserispor and the two teams played out a close encounter, but as so many of their games have gone this season, Altay were beaten 1-0 with their hosts being slightly more clinical on the day.

Failing to convert any of the few chances that Denizli's side created on Sunday means that they have now not found the back of the net in their last three matches across all competitions, suggesting that this weekend's home team will need to keep a clean sheet in the hope of collecting three points.

Altay's defensive record is better at the Alsancak Mustafa Denizli Stadi than it is on their travels, so they are likely to be glad to be back on home soil, having played their last three matches away from Izmir.

Alanyaspor need to get back to winning ways if they are to put pressure on the European spots in the table, after recording consecutive 1-1 draws in the league with a point against Istanbul Basaksehir on Saturday.

Khouma Babacar gave Alanyaspor the lead in that game, but despite their visitors being reduced to 10 players in the 41st minute, Istanbul Basaksehir equalised just before half time, with Umut Gunes then levelling the numbers on the pitch again by getting sent off just after the break.

Bulent Korkmaz's side have conceded more goals than any of the other teams above the relegation zone, and that is something they will need to improve on if they are to climb the table, as it has currently halted them with a worse goal difference than the sides around them.

Something that has aided Alanyaspor this campaign is that their away record is similar to their points return at home, meaning that they have managed to find consistency across all games no matter the venue, and that bodes well for the visitors on Sunday.

Alanyaspor will also take confidence from the fact that the last time they faced a team in the relegation zone they ran out as 6-2 winners against Yeni Malatyaspor, and they will be aiming to replicate that result to some extent when they face Altay.

This weekend's home side can be hopeful of a repeat of what occurred the last time these two teams met towards the beginning of this season, having beaten Alanyaspor 4-1, Altay's biggest win of the campaign so far.

Team News

Gabon international Andre Poko will be unavailable for Altay as he is at the Africa Cup of Nations, and the home side have a list of injuries to add to the absent list.

Leandro Kappel has been unable to participate at all this season, and he continues to be sidelined due to a hernia that will rule him out until the end of February, while Nurettin Kucukdeniz and Serge Aka are also sidelined due to long-term injuries.

Centre-back Eric Bjorkander is also a doubt for Sunday's match, suffering with a back injury, but Cebrail Karayel will be able to make his return to the side after being shown a double yellow card against Kasimpasa.

Alanyaspor's squad will be stretched this weekend as they have a whole host of players missing through international duty, coronavirus and suspension.

Gunes will start his suspension on Sunday after seeing a straight red last time out, while Famara Diedhiou, El Mami Tetah and Chidozie Awaziem are all at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Nemanja Milunovic, Miha Mevlja, Ahmet Gulay, Ahmed Ildiz and Daniel Candeias are ruled out of this encounter due to coronavirus, and between them that will mean Alanyaspor are missing out on a lot of their key players this season.

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

Alanyaspor possible starting lineup:
Marafona; Bingol, Bayir, Aksoy, Juanfran; Fer; Davidson, Bekiroglu, Novais, Karaca; Babacar

We say: Altay 0-2 Alanyaspor

Alanyaspor are expected to capitalise on Altay's poor form and that should help the visitors collect three points with a clean sheet on Sunday, as their hosts have not been prolific in front of goal.

Korkmaz's side have not recorded brilliant results themselves in recent weeks, but Sunday presents a chance to put some pressure on fourth spot and starting closing the gap.

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