Eyupspor vs Kocaelispor – News and Probable Lineups

In their quest to secure crucial points for survival in the Turkish Super Lig, Eyupspor will face a struggling Kocaelispor team at the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadyumu on Monday.

The visitors come into this matchup on the back of three consecutive losses across different competitions, including two defeats in the Super Lig, while Eyupspor has managed to gather four points from their last two league encounters, bringing hope to their fans.

Match overview

Atila Gerin took the reins at Eyupspor in January after the mutual separation from Orhan Ak, with the main aim being to steer the team clear of relegation. Since his appointment, Gerin has led the side to two victories out of seven league fixtures.

Under Gerin, the Purple and Yellows have accrued 10 points from a possible 21, positioning them just one spot and two points above the relegation zone.

Nonetheless, with 30 points still up for grabs before the season concludes, significant efforts remain to ensure their continued presence in the top division.

Currently, Eyupspor has not lost in their last two league outings, following a narrow 1-0 victory over Genclerbirligi and a hard-fought goalless draw against Goztepe in their recent match.

The Purple and Yellows will aim to recreate their earlier three-match unbeaten run that followed Gerin’s arrival in January.

However, the hosts need to quickly bounce back from their midweek setback in the Turkish Cup, where a 1-0 loss to Konyaspor ended their cup journey. In the long run, this exit may let them concentrate fully on their fight for league survival.

Historically, matches between Eyupspor and Kocaelispor have been fiercely contested, with both teams claiming two wins each along with three draws from their seven competitive meetings.

Their inaugural Super Lig encounter took place earlier this season, resulting in a tight 1-0 victory for Kocaelispor, who will now aim for a historic season double over the hosts.

Currently, Kocaelispor finds itself in a slump reminiscent of their early-season challenges, struggling to find the net and achieve positive results.

They experienced back-to-back league losses, falling 2-0 to Caykur Rizespor and 1-0 to Besiktas, and their troubles compounded midweek with an unexpected 1-0 defeat against lower-tier Beyoglu Yeni Carsi, which saw them exit the Turkish Cup.

Aiming to avoid a third straight league defeat, they are keen not to replicate their early Super Lig season where they lost their initial three matches.

Despite their current downturn, Kocaelispor is not in immediate jeopardy in the league standings, sitting eighth with 30 points—10 points above the relegation zone and 16 points shy of the European spots.

A respectable mid-table finish would be seen as a solid achievement in their return to top-flight football following a 16-year absence.

Team News

As Eyupspor prepares for this fixture, there are no confirmed absentees, though Ukrainian midfielder Taras Stepanenko remains a doubt as he continues recovery from an injury sustained in January.

Dorin Rotariu left the pitch with an injury during the Turkish Cup loss to Konyaspor, and his availability will depend on the severity of that issue.

Striker Umut Bozok is the player with the highest rate of shots on target per match for the hosts this season (0.9), but he is currently facing a three-match goal drought and will be looking to regain his scoring rhythm on Monday.

Kocaelispor, on the other hand, will be without defender Mateusz Wieteska, who has been ruled out due to a knee injury since August.

Mahamadou Susoho is also unavailable due to injury, while Aleksandar Jovanovic is still working towards full fitness, making him a doubt for this match.

Eyupspor probable starting XI:

Yilmaz; Ulvan, Ozyurt, Onguene, Meras; Gezek, Taskin, Legowski; Torres, Bozok, Pintor

Kocaelispor probable starting XI:

Miller; Oguz, Balogh, Smolcic, Haidara; Keita, Show, Linetty; Bingol, Petkovic, Agyei

Given the recent modest improvement under Gerin, Eyupspor appears to be slightly better positioned for this match as they have been more resilient defensively of late.

Kocaelispor is struggling with both confidence and goal-scoring capabilities following several defeats, and with home advantage and momentum in their favor, the hosts could secure a narrow victory.