Caykur Rizespor vs Kocaelispor – News and Probable Lineups

Caykur Rizespor, currently struggling, will welcome mid-table Kocaelispor in a Super Lig fixture at Rize City Stadium on Friday.

The home side is eager to put an end to a seven-match winless streak across all competitions, while the visitors will aim for a third consecutive league victory.

Match overview

Rizespor has dealt with numerous challenges this season, and it is not surprising they are lingering perilously close to the relegation zone.

After participating in 22 matches in the Turkish top division, the Black Sea Sparrowhawks have secured only four victories, reflecting their difficulties in this campaign.

The arrival of Recep Ucar has not significantly eased the tension, as he has managed only one league win, a 3-0 victory against Eyupspor, since taking charge.

With a current ranking of 13th in the standings and 21 points, the hosts are just three points above the relegation zone, necessitating a swift turnaround to maintain their top-flight status.

A loss this weekend could worsen their situation, pulling them into the relegation battle.

Performing at home should offer some relief, but with only three victories from 11 matches at their ground, optimism is low.

Kocaelispor won the second division championship in the 2024–25 season, thereby gaining promotion to the Super Lig for the ongoing campaign.

A successful survival at the season’s end would be a notable achievement for the Izmit-based outfit, who have exceeded expectations.

Having collected 30 points from 22 league matches, they currently sit seventh in the table, just 11 points behind Goztepe, who holds the final European qualification spot.

The visitors remain unbeaten in their last three competitive fixtures (W2, D1), with their most recent wins coming in league matches against Kayserispor (2-1) and Gaziantep (3-0).

This momentum could provide them with the necessary boost going into this match, although their away performance has been somewhat disappointing with just two wins, three draws, and five losses on their travels.

Team News

While Rizespor has several players out due to injuries, the majority of the squad is fit and eager to play.

However, Khusniddin Alikulov is still unavailable due to an unspecified injury, and Giannis Papanikolaou is suspended following the accumulation of yellow cards.

Angolan player Augusto Loide may also miss this match, as he requires a late fitness test to be deemed fit for Friday’s game.

For the visitors, Mateusz Wieteska is ruled out with a knee injury that has kept him sidelined since August; thus, he is not in consideration for this match.

Aleksandar Jovanovic and Mahamadou Susoho are both uncertain for this fixture due to injuries and might not travel for this match.

Forward Bruno Petkovic has netted six goals this season and is expected to be among the first names in the lineup on Friday.

Caykur Rizespor probable starting XI:

Fly; Akaydin, Hojer, Mocci, Sahin; Shovel, Antalya; Michaela, Laci, Olave; Sowe

Kocaelispor probable starting XI:

Miller; Oguz, Balogh, Smolcic, Haidara; Keita, Show, Bingol; Keles, Petkovic, Rivas

At the moment, while Rizespor struggles to secure a win, they did show resilience in their last performance, which could motivate them against a superior Kocaelispor side, who themselves face away challenges. With this situation in mind, the match may end in a draw, and a 1-1 stalemate is predicted.