Antalyaspor vs Samsunspor – News and Probable Lineups

On Friday evening, Antalyaspor and Samsunspor will be looking to recover from disappointing losses in the Turkish Super Lig when they clash at Corendon Airlines Park.

The Scorpions were shocked by bottom-placed Fatih Karagumruk in a 1-0 defeat, while the Red Lightning faced a heavy 3-0 home loss to Trabzonspor.

Match overview

Antalyaspor seemed to be gaining momentum after securing a win against Genclerbirligi, which was sandwiched by draws against Kasimpasa and Trabzonspor.

However, their progress quickly deteriorated, starting with a shocking 6-0 defeat to lower-tier Igdir in the Turkish Cup, followed by last weekend’s narrow league loss in Istanbul.

Conceding a goal within the first five minutes against Karagumruk was detrimental, and their lack of attacking threat was even more worrying, managing only one shot on target against the league’s second-worst defense.

Despite this setback, Sami Ugurlu’s squad remains four points clear of the relegation zone, though their recent form raises doubts about their ability to maintain that gap, having gone three straight competitive matches without a victory (1D, 2L).

However, there is some positivity in their recent encounters with Samsunspor, as Antalyaspor has won the last two matchups, both finishing 2-1.

Additionally, they have won every home league match against the visitors since they returned to the top flight three seasons ago, and now aim for a third consecutive home victory in this fixture.

Interestingly, prior to this season, the home team had won all their league meetings since 2023, a trend that Antalyaspor interrupted earlier in the season with an away victory, something Samsunspor will strive to replicate.

Thomas Reis’s squad may have been outclassed by Trabzonspor without landing a single shot on target, but they can take heart from their away performances in 2026, managing to avoid defeat in both of their Super Lig away games so far (1W, 1D).

Before that loss, the Red Lightning remained unbeaten in five competitive matches, securing three wins and two draws, suggesting they were gaining momentum.

However, their overall form has slipped compared to last season, with Samsunspor currently sitting in seventh place with 30 points, 10 points adrift of the top four, making a return to Europe via the league increasingly improbable.

A growing concern has been their lack of offensive firepower, with only two goals scored across four league fixtures this year, an issue Reis has linked to inadequate service to his forwards and one he must rectify promptly if his team aims to challenge for a top-five finish.

Team News

Antalyaspor has received a boost with the return of long-term injured player Erdogan Yesilyurt, who has recently recovered from a knee issue and made the bench last match, potentially featuring here.

However, Abdulkadir Omur is nursing an injury, Bunyamin Balci is suspended following accumulated yellow cards, and Ramzi Safuri remains uncertain.

Samsunspor is anticipated to continue without Cetin Bedirhan and Tanguy Coulibaly, both of whom are recovering from knee injuries, while Afonso Sousa is out with an ankle injury.

Emre Kilinc is also likely to be unavailable again, having missed the last seven matches, while Antoine Makoumbou is suspended due to accumulated yellow cards.

Antalyaspor probable starting XI:

Julian; Tixz, Turkmen, Sari, Paal; Dikmen, Saric; Storm, Ceesay, Karakoc; From the Region

Samsunspor probable starting XI:

Kocuk; Gonul, Saka, Saka, Van Drongelen, Yavru; Ysksel, Cif; Doing, Kayan, Assour; Yecay

While Antalyaspor’s home record against Samsunspor offers some optimism, their recent dip in confidence and ongoing attacking issues remain a concern.

Meanwhile, the visitors have displayed resilience on the road in 2026, even though goals have been scarce, making a tightly contested match seem likely, with a low-scoring draw being the most anticipated outcome.