Eyupspor vs Alanyaspor – News and Probable Lineups

Eyupspor welcomes Alanyaspor to Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadyumu on Sunday as they play in round three of the 2026-27 Turkish Super Lig season, with the home team eager to secure their first points and goals of the season.

Under Ozan Pulat’s management, the team has lost their first two matches without registering a goal, while Alanyaspor arrives with an undefeated record, having drawn with Gaziantep and triumphed over Besiktas.

Match overview

Eyupspor has had a frustrating start, suffering a 1-0 defeat to Besiktas on the road and following up with a similar result at home against Gaziantep.

The most recent loss was particularly disheartening, as Eyupspor failed to capitalize on their home advantage against Gaziantep, who ended the match with ten men following Juninho Bacuna’s dismissal in the 64th minute.

Eyupspor dominated possession with 56% and took 12 shots, yet their offensive efficiency was lacking, producing only 0.49 xG and managing just one shot on target. This problem also manifested during their match against Besiktas, where they similarly achieved only one shot on target and registered an xG of 0.09.

The defeat has left the Purple-Yellows still searching for their first goal in the opening two league fixtures, making them one of only two teams, alongside Erzurumspor, yet to score, as well as one of three teams without any points.

However, there are strong reasons for optimism, as Eyupspor has traditionally performed well in this fixture, winning their last three encounters with Alanyaspor and remaining unbeaten in their four league matches (3 wins, 1 draw).

Their latest match ended in a 3-0 victory, while the other two were secured in the 2024-25 season, and the Eyupspor side has won on both occasions they have hosted this fixture in the Super Lig.

On the other hand, Alanyaspor managed a surprising victory against Besiktas, beating them 1-0 at home last weekend.

Nuno Lima netted the winning goal in the 73rd minute, heading in from a delivery by Florent Hadergjonaj. This came despite the fact that Besiktas completed 560 passes compared to Alanyaspor’s 295, showcasing Joao Pereira’s side’s effectiveness in maintaining a compact formation and waiting for their chance to counter-attack.

This result followed a 1-1 draw away at Gaziantep during the opening weekend, allowing Alanyaspor to accumulate four points from their first two fixtures, having netted twice and conceded once, with the visitors demonstrating a preference for tightening matches rather than overwhelming with offensive pressure.

The challenge now lies in replicating their defensive performance on the road while enhancing their attacking threat against an opponent they have historically struggled to score against, having only netted three times in four encounters while conceding nine.

Team News

Eyupspor has several selection dilemmas as they approach this match. David Costa is set to return from his suspension, having missed the match against Gaziantep, while Yusuf Barasi could also be back in the starting XI.

Pulat is expected to retain a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Costa likely returning to midfield, while Abdelhamid Sabiri could take on a more forward role. Options to lead the attack may include Ahmed Abdullahi and Bilal Boutobba.

Alanyaspor may welcome back Maestro from a thigh injury, rejoining Gaius Makouta in midfield in place of Baran Gezek.

Pereira is anticipated to maintain the three-man defence that proved effective in their victory over Besiktas, with Lima, Fidan Aliti, and Umit Akdag forming the central defensive core.

Eyupspor probable starting XI:

Moldavian; Giordano, El Yamiq, Ulvan, Jules; Costa, Massanga; Painter, Sabiri, Boutobba; Abdullahi

Alanyaspor probable starting XI:

Victor; Lima, Aliti, Akdag; Hadergjonaj, Makouta, Master, Rouen; Home, Usluoglu, Hwang Ui-jo

Given Eyupspor’s struggles to find the net in their initial two matches, it’s difficult to confidently predict a win for them, but their good recent record against Alanyaspor and the return of David Costa could improve their offensive potential.

It’s likely the hosts will finally hit the back of the net, yet Pereira’s team possesses a solid defensive discipline to ensure they leave Istanbul with at least one point.