Konyaspor vs Fenerbahçe – News and Probable Lineups

Konyaspor is set to host Fenerbahce at the Medas Konya Buyuksehir Stadium on Saturday evening, as the visitors strive to maintain their diminishing hopes of clinching the Turkish Super Lig title on the last matchday of the season.

The Yellow Canaries find themselves four points off leaders Galatasaray with only two fixtures left, while Konyaspor is aiming to conclude a commendable late-season revival with a top-half finish and a Turkish Cup final on the horizon.

Match overview

Konyaspor has revitalized their campaign since Ilhan Palut’s return to management, allowing the Anatolian Eagle to rise away from the relegation zone and re-establish themselves as one of the league’s in-form teams.

As they head into this match, the hosts have lost just once in their last 11 fixtures across all competitions, securing eight wins and two draws in that period, although that lone defeat occurred in their recent league match—a close 3-2 loss to Caykur Rizespor.

However, Konyaspor made a remarkable comeback midweek, narrowly defeating Besiktas 1-0 in the Turkish Cup semi-finals thanks to Enis Bardhi’s last-minute penalty, marking their return to the final for the first time since they lifted the trophy in 2016-17.

This result underscored the resilience that Palut has instilled in the team, particularly as Konyaspor had previously eliminated Fenerbahce from the same tournament in similarly thrilling circumstances in the prior round.

With relegation survival already secured and European qualification through the league not in sight, the hosts can approach this match with freedom, though securing a top-half finish remains a viable goal.

On the other hand, Fenerbahce is still mathematically in the title contention, although their chances are dwindling after a tumultuous few weeks.

A disheartening 3-0 defeat against Galatasaray on matchday 31 was the final turning point for Domenico Tedesco, who was subsequently relieved of his duties, leaving assistant Zeki Murat Gole in temporary command for the rest of the season.

The Yellow Canaries did manage to bounce back positively under their interim manager in their last match, defeating Istanbul Basaksehir 3-1, featuring a hat trick from Anderson Talisca, but they still need Galatasaray to falter in order to keep their title aspirations alive heading into the final weekend.

Their recent history against Konyaspor adds a layer of optimism, as the Istanbul team has claimed victory in five of the last six league clashes, including a commanding 4-0 win earlier in the season.

Yet, Konyaspor’s recent revival under Palut—coupled with the morale boost from their cup success—suggests this fixture could be more challenging than the league standings indicate.

Team News

Konyaspor will miss the services of Josip Calusic, Guilherme Sitya, and Alassane Ndao, all serving suspensions for disciplinary reasons unrelated to on-field incidents.

Conversely, Ufuk Akyol and Blaz Kramer are unavailable due to knee injuries, and Tunahan Tasci is also out.

Enis Bardhi is expected to maintain his advanced midfield position following his decisive penalty against Besiktas, while Marko Jevtovic and Melih Ibrahimoglu are likely to once again serve as the midfield anchors.

Fenerbahce has one major fitness concern, as Dorgeles Nene is racing to recover from a groin injury after missing the victory against Istanbul Basaksehir.

Edson Alvarez returned from injury to appear as a substitute last time out, while interim coach Gole faces the decision of reinstating Ederson as goalkeeper following his suspension or keeping Mert Gunok, who started the last match.

Talisca is guaranteed to hold his spot after his impressive hat trick, while Fred and N’Golo Kante are anticipated to continue their midfield partnership after the Frenchman’s arrival earlier this year.

Konyaspor probable starting XI:

High; Yazgili, Nagalo, Demirbag, Kutlu; Ibrahimoglu, Jevtovic; Turuc, Frost, Olaigbe; Don’t

Fenerbahce probable starting XI:

Anger; Semedo, Skriniar, Oosterwolde, Brown; Kante, Fred; Musabah, Talisca, Acturcoglu; Cherif

Konyaspor’s confidence and momentum render them formidable opponents, particularly following their emotional triumph in the Turkish Cup, but Fenerbahce has everything to contend for and boasts superior individual talent in the attacking third.

The hosts are expected to pose a challenge for their visitors, although the urgency associated with Fenerbahce’s title chase could ultimately be a decisive factor in what is anticipated to be a fiercely contested match.