Kayserispor vs. Karagumruk – News and Probable Lineups

After recently handing Fenerbahce their first Super Lig loss this season, Fatih Karagumruk will make their way to the Kadir Has Stadium to face fellow relegation battlers Kayserispor in a crucial fixture on Thursday.

Struggling to secure a victory in their last six encounters with their opponents, the Anatolian Star aims to turn the tide and bag three vital points in their quest for survival.

Match overview

Kayserispor continues to languish at the lower end of the Super Lig, having faced a 2-1 defeat to Samsunspor last Sunday at the Samsun Yeni 19 Mayis Stadium.

Erling Moe’s squad appeared poised to depart with a point when Toni Borevkovic scored an own goal in the second half, leveling the score after Antoine Makoumbou had opened the proceedings in the 31st minute. However, Logi Tomasson netted in the second minute of additional time, securing a dramatic win for Samsunspor.

This latest outcome leaves Kayserispor winless in three consecutive matches, having garnered only one point from a possible nine, and they remain without a victory in 11 of their previous 12 league matches, with six losses and five draws since early December.

After finishing 13th last season, this downward trend threatens to jeopardize the Anatolian Star’s ongoing 10-year presence in the top flight, as they currently find themselves nearly at the bottom of the Super Lig table with 20 points from 26 matches, just two points away from safety.

While a win on Thursday could lift Kayserispor out of the relegation zone, they are set to face an opponent they have struggled against recently, having lost four and drawn two in their last six attempts since claiming a 2-1 victory in October 2021.

Indeed, Thursday’s match poses a significant challenge for the hosts, as Fatih Karagumruk has turned things around recently and heads into the Kadir Has Stadium following a morale-boosting 2-0 triumph over title contenders Fenerbahce last weekend.

Despite controlling just 32% of possession, Fatih Karagumruk capitalized on their opportunities at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, with Bartug Elmaz and Serginho scoring first-half goals that dealt Fenerbahce their first league defeat of the overall season.

As a result, Aleksandar Stanojevic’s men have recorded two wins and one draw across their last three games in all competitions and are unbeaten in three of their last four Super Lig matches, amassing five points during this run, in stark contrast to the five points accumulated in the preceding ten matches.

While Karagumruk seems to have improved in recent weeks, considerable effort remains to ensure they retain their status in the top division, as the Black Red are currently last in the Super Lig standings with 17 points from 26 games, sitting seven points behind 15th-placed Antalyaspor who are just above the relegation zone.

Team News

Kayserispor will be without the services of 29-year-old midfielder Abdulsamet Burak, who is currently suspended by the Turkish Football Federation due to a gambling controversy.

In terms of injuries, 18-year-old Kayra Cihan has yet to play this year and is unavailable for the hosts, while Yigit Celtik is recovering from a significant knee injury.

On the other hand, Fatih Karagumruk faced two significant injury setbacks during their match against Fenerbahce, with Elmaz and seasoned midfielder Sam Larsson forced to exit due to injury in the second half.

While both players are doubtful for Thursday’s match, Muhammed Kadioglu is set to miss his eighth consecutive game because of injury, and Portuguese forward Joao Camacho has been sidelined since sustaining an injury against Besiktas in November.

Italian defender Davide Biraschi was also a notable absentee during the Fenerbahce encounter due to injury and will likewise be unavailable for the trip to the Kadir Has Stadium.

Kayserispor probable starting XI:

Bayazit; Brenet, Guler, Denswil, Civelek; Makarov, Benea, Soyalp, Cardoso; Onugkha, Sariarslan

Fatih Karagumruk probable starting XI:

Grbic; Esgaio, Lichnoxy, Cinar, Mladenovic; Kranevitter, Babicka; Serginho, Cukur, Kalayci; Ozkan

Encouraged by their impressive display against Fenerbahce, Fatih Karagumruk will arrive at the Kadir Has Stadium in high spirits, eager to push for safety as the season winds down.

Home advantage gives Kayserispor a bit of an edge, and despite anticipating a contest, we believe both teams may ultimately share the points.