Istanbul vs Gençlerbirliği – News and Probable Lineups

This weekend, two teams struggling for form in the new season will clash as Istanbul Basaksehir welcomes Genclerbirligi in the sixth round of the Turkish Super Lig on Saturday.

The Grey Owls have been unable to secure a victory for four consecutive matches since their first game of the season, while Genclerbirligi arrives at the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium on the back of two straight defeats in September.

Match overview

Istanbul Basaksehir’s challenges in the Super Lig worsened last Sunday when they experienced a heavy 5-0 defeat to newly-promoted side Amed Sportif Faaliyetler.

An own goal from Emin Bayram just before halftime opened the floodgates at the Seyrantepe Spor Kompleksi Stadium, while summer signing Gift Orban scored a hat-trick in the second half, showcasing a superb individual performance.

Having started the season with a 2-0 win over Kocaelispor on August 16, Istanbul Basaksehir has since gone four matches without a win, recording one draw and three defeats, including back-to-back losses to Galatasaray and Amed in their last two games.

The early struggles of Nuri Sahin’s team have primarily stemmed from their defensive vulnerabilities, conceding 11 goals since the season opener, with only Goztepe at the bottom of the table allowing more (13) thus far this season.

In an effort to end their poor run this weekend, Basaksehir will rely on their home advantage, as they remain unbeaten in eight of their last nine Super Lig fixtures at the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium, accumulating six wins and two draws since late February.

Conversely, Genclerbirligi were left frustrated last Sunday as they suffered a 2-1 loss against Kasimpasa after relinquishing their lead in the final moments at the Eryaman Stadium.

Ousmane Diabate opened the scoring in the 23rd minute to give the hosts a first-half lead, but Adrian Benedyczak equalized in the 79th minute, continuing his excellent scoring form before Guven Yalcin completed the Kasimpasa comeback with a goal in the 94th minute.

Metin Diyadin’s squad began the season unbeaten in their first three matches, including back-to-back wins over Fenerbahce and Goztepe, but their momentum has been halted by consecutive defeats against Trabzonspor and Kasimpasa, causing early-season hope to dissipate.

As Genclerbirligi aims to bounce back this weekend, they face another tough challenge at the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium, where the Ankara Ruzgari have not won in their last seven visits, suffering six losses and a solitary draw since a 2-0 victory in October 2012.

Team News

Edin Visca, who joined from Trabzonspor, is still sidelined and has not played for Istanbul Basaksehir due to an injury, ruling him out for this weekend’s match.

First-choice goalkeeper Muhammed Sengezer will also miss his third consecutive game due to a shoulder injury, which means Deniz Dilmen is expected to start again, with Omer Ali Sahiner, Emin Bayram, Jerome Opoku, and Christopher Operi forming the back four.

Eldor Shomurodov, who scored 22 goals in a remarkable debut campaign in the Super Lig last season, has already found the net four times this season and is expected to lead the home side’s attack, teaming up with Andreas Skov Olsen and Abbosbek Fayzullaev.

As for Genclerbirligi, Cheikh Niasse has missed three consecutive matches since his injury against Goztepe on August 23 and is unavailable for this weekend’s contest.

Veteran defender Kevin Rodrigues has yet to make an appearance for the Ankara Ruzgari this season as he continues to recover from a muscle injury sustained last May.

Istanbul Basaksehir probable starting XI:

Dilmen; Sahiner, Bayram, Opoku, Operi; Kaluzinski, Gunes; Skov Olsen, Kemen, Faizullaev; Shomurodov

Genclerbirligi probable starting XI:

Egribayat? Pereira, Goutas, Thalisson, Dursun; Diabetes? Traore, Ulgun, Tongya, Gouveia; Mendes

Despite their capabilities at both ends of the pitch, Istanbul Basaksehir has begun the season disappointingly and will be eager for a confidence-boosting outcome this weekend.

Genclerbirligi’s away performance also gives Basaksehir reason for optimism, as Diyadin’s men have failed to win eight of their ten Super Lig away matches this year, leading us to predict that the hosts are likely to deliver a strong showing to secure all three points.