Kocaelispor vs Amed SK – News and Probable Lineups

Kocaelispor will face Amed SK at Kocaeli Stadyumu on Monday, concluding the second round of the Turkish Super Lig season, as the home team aims to secure their initial points of the season.

In the opening weekend, both teams experienced different outcomes; Selcuk Inan’s squad suffered a significant defeat against Istanbul Basaksehir, while the newly promoted opponents celebrated an impressive win against fellow newcomers Erzurumspor in their first top-flight home match.

Match overview

Kocaelispor fell to a 2-0 defeat away to Istanbul Basaksehir during the opening weekend, with Christopher Operi scoring early and Eldor Shomurodov netting in the second half, leaving Inan’s team with a challenging start to the season.

Inan openly acknowledged in his post-match comments that the disparity in quality between both teams ultimately tipped the scales, praising the efforts of his players, but he also believed they might have salvaged something from the encounter had they not conceded the second goal.

Kocaelispor concluded last season in 10th place, managing to avoid relegation with a total of 37 points, although they scored merely 26 goals, the fewest in the league. Their lack of offensive firepower was a significant drawback, and Inan will be seeking to enhance their threat in the attacking third during their home opener this season.

Their home form was crucial to their mid-table placement last year, as Kocaeli gathered 23 of their 37 points at Kocaeli Stadyumu, and they now have a chance to capitalize on that advantage against a team that has just secured promotion.

This fixture will mark the first time these sides meet in the top division, but Kocaelispor will likely draw confidence from their latest encounter when the Izmit-based team triumphed 1-0 at home over Amed in February 2025.

Amed previously claimed victory in the last three encounters between the two sides, including two wins in the third tier and one in one of their two second-tier meetings.

The guests will be aiming to get back to winning ways away from home after starting their inaugural Super Lig campaign with a bang, marking their historic home debut at this level with a commanding 3-0 triumph over Erzurumspor, where Dia Saba scored twice in the second half following Gokhan Gul’s opener.

Besnik Hasi’s summer overhaul seems to be yielding results, with the club bringing in nine fresh faces, including Scottish centre-back David Bates and Kosovo international Lumbardh Dellova, who quickly found their feet during the opening match.

Hasi will now be eager for his squad to demonstrate that their success against Erzurumspor was no fluke as Amed readies to face another recently promoted team, looking to replicate the attacking prowess they showed in their first match, this time on the road.

Team News

Kocaelispor does not have any new injury issues following their defeat to Basaksehir, although goalkeeper Aleksandar Jovanovic remains off the pitch as he continues recovering from a knee injury sustained last season.

Croatian forward Bruno Petkovic, who netted seven league goals last season, is also sidelined while he recovers from a hamstring injury that has kept him out since April.

Rigoberto Rivas is set to keep his place in attack as he looks for his first goal of the season, with Tayfur Bingol anticipated to play just behind him.

Amed has no significant fitness worries following their solid victory over Erzurumspor, and Hasi could name the same starting XI after witnessing his revamped team perform so well in the opening weekend.

Saba will aim to build on his two goals from the first match, starting on the left flank of the attack, while new signing Gift Orban is likely to feature on the right after making a successful debut by providing an assist. Mbaye Diagne is expected to spearhead the attack.

Kocaelispor probable starting XI:

Oztasdelen; Yildiz, Dijksteel, Zoukrou, Haidara; Head, Show; Baku, Bingol, Agyei; Rivas

Amed SK probable starting XI:

Lafont; Yesil, Dellova, Bates; Sor, Ustundag, Raveloson, Krasniqi; Orban, Diagne, Saba

Amed’s offensive form and the confidence from their dominant opening-day win grant them a notable advantage, even without the motivation of playing in front of their home supporters.

Kocaelispor is expected to show improvement with home field advantage and will be keen to bounce back after their loss at Basaksehir, but their limited scoring threat from last season remains a concern.

We anticipate that the attacking capabilities of the visitors will pose challenges for the home team, who continue to search for the incisiveness that eluded them in Istanbul.