Gaziantep vs Kasımpaşa – News and Probable Lineups

Gaziantep will aim to end a seven-match winless streak in the Turkish Super Lig when they face Kasimpasa this Monday evening.

The home side has fallen significantly behind in the race for the top four spots in recent weeks, while their next opponents find themselves in the relegation zone.

Match overview

At the end of October, Gaziantep was positioned fourth in the league table and appeared to be building a strong case for a place in European competitions.

Given that the club has yet to compete on the European stage, qualifying for one of the three UEFA club tournaments would be a remarkable landmark for the Falcons.

Nevertheless, it seems those aspirations will have to be postponed until next season, as Gaziantep is currently 14 points off the top four.

While head coach Burak Yilmaz initially oversaw a bright beginning to the season, his team has not won any of their last seven league fixtures – a stretch that has led to their significant downturn.

The primary focus for Gaziantep now is to reverse their recent form, and they will be optimistic since they have remained unbeaten in their last four encounters against Kasimpasa.

Kasimpasa is also experiencing a seven-match winless streak in the league, but their situation is considerably more desperate, as they hover near the relegation zone.

The club has maintained a presence in the Super Lig for 14 consecutive seasons; however, their tenure is at risk of ending due to a poor run of form.

Controversial head coach Emre Belozoglu, who has a history of scandals, was brought in last October to pull the club out of trouble.

Unfortunately, his efforts have not yielded any positive results, as his squad has lost seven of their 12 matches while securing only one victory.

The Apaches head into this match sitting just two points above the relegation zone, leaving room for a possible turnaround. However, with the team possessing the worst attacking stats in the league, concerns persist regarding their survival prospects.

Gaziantep Turkish Super League form:

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Gaziantep form (all competitions):

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Kasimpasa Turkish Super Lig form:

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Kasimpasa form (all competitions):

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Team News

Gaziantep will miss French defender Salem M’Bakata, who has appeared just once this season due to a knee issue.

Similarly, young midfielder Ali Ablak has been sidelined with a knee injury.

Veteran midfielder Badou Ndiaye has not played for the Falcons in the last eight matches due to injury and is expected to remain on the sidelines.

On the other hand, Kasimpasa still lacks Bosnian midfielder and crucial squad player Haris Hajradinovic. The 31-year-old has been dealing with a knee injury throughout much of the season.

There are also uncertainties surrounding forward Irfan Can Kahveci, who has just returned to the squad.

Gaziantep probable starting XI:

Gorgen; Kizildag, Mujakic, Sorcare; Having, Cainah, Ca ́rakha, Sorescu; Maxim; Dragus, Bayo

Kasimpasa probable starting XI:

Gianniotis; Frimpong, Arous, Opoku, Winck; Baldson; Diabata, Ben Ouane, Dey, Cores; star

Despite Gaziantep’s struggles, they have shown the ability to find the back of the net.

The visitors, on the other hand, have managed to score only once in six matches, which leads us to expect the Falcons may secure all three points.