Konyaspor vs. Gençlerbirliği – News and Probable Lineups

Konyaspor will face Genclerbirligi at the Konya Buyuksehir Belediye Stadium on Thursday night, as both sides seek crucial points to steer clear of a deeper relegation struggle in the Turkish Super Lig.

The away team arrives in Konya following a disappointing loss that disrupted their recent positive form, while the home side enters the match buoyed by a series of favorable results lately.

Match overview

Konyaspor kicked off the 2025-26 season aiming for a secure mid-table finish after wrapping up the previous campaign in 11th place. However, they have found themselves frequently looking over their shoulders due to a closely fought relegation battle.

The Anatolian Eagles have already switched managers three times this season, with Ilhan Palut taking the helm in early February. Although a mid-table placement is within reach, the risk of sliding into the relegation spots remains very much a concern.

With a five-point cushion above the relegation zone, Konyaspor has displayed promising signs recently, capturing two wins and a draw in their last four league outings, alleviating some of the pressure they faced.

They head into Thursday’s matchup unbeaten in their last three fixtures across all competitions, achieving two wins and a draw, their latest being a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory against Kocaelispor away from home.

The Anatolian team was trailing until the 86th minute when Blaz Kramer equalized; shortly after, a contentious penalty was awarded, with Jackson Muleka converting it to complete the comeback.

This decision led to tumultuous scenes on the sidelines, as irate Kocaelispor manager Selcuk Inan instructed his substitutes and staff to vacate the bench in protest, which resulted in him receiving a red card.

Late victories are known to provide a mental boost, and Konyaspor will aim to carry that momentum into this match against a team they have already triumphed over this season and against whom they have not lost in their last three competitive encounters (1W, 2D).

Genclerbirligi travels to Konya, sitting just two points and one position behind their hosts, after experiencing a tough week knowing that another loss may bring them perilously close to the relegation zone.

This past Sunday, they suffered a 2-0 defeat at home to Besiktas, which ended their three-match unbeaten streak that included two draws and a victory in both league and cup competitions.

The difference in quality was apparent during that match, as Besiktas controlled the game with 69% possession and 24 shots in comparison to Genclerbirligi’s 11, making the situation even more difficult for the hosts when they were reduced to 10 men in the 18th minute.

Since the start of the year, Genclerbirligi has struggled with consistency, achieving only three wins in their last 12 games across all competitions (5D, 4L), and they are currently without a win in their last six league matches (3D, 3L).

A persistent issue has been their defensive fragility, conceding 38.4 expected goals against (xGA) in the league this season, with only five teams faring worse in this statistic.

Addressing this defensive record will be a major focus for manager Levent Sahin, who has secured just one victory in five matches since assuming control in mid-February.

Team News

Konyaspor will miss Ufuk Akyol for the remainder of the season following his cruciate ligament surgery, having already been absent for a significant part of the campaign.

Experienced left-back Guilherme Haubert Sitya and defender Rayyan Baniya are both doubtful and will be evaluated prior to kickoff.

Genclerbirligi continues to grapple with multiple injury issues, as midfielder Peter Etebo is sidelined with a muscle injury, while Abdullah Sahindere and Emirhan Unal are unavailable due to knee concerns.

Moussa Kyabou is still in the recovery phase from a long-term knee injury sustained last year, and Zan Zuzek is also considered doubtful for this match.

Furthermore, Sekou Koita is set to serve a suspension after his early red card in the loss to Besiktas, ruling him out for the trip to Konya.

Konyaspor probable starting XI:

Gungordu; Andzouana, Yazgili, Demirbag, Bosluk; Kutlu, Ibrahimoglu; Turuc, Bardhi, Olaigbe; Muleka

Genclerbirligi probable starting XI:

Velho; Pereira, Goutas, Islamoglu, Thalisson; Dele-Bashiru; Traore, Gurpuz, Tongya, Mimaroglu; Niang

Konyaspor seem to have gained a bit more confidence following recent positive results, while Genclerbirligi continues to find it difficult to maintain consistency and remains defensively exposed.

With the advantage of playing at home and an upturn in form, the hosts may have the edge in what is likely to be a closely contested encounter.