Konyaspor vs Trabzonspor – News and Probable Lineups

Konyaspor and Trabzonspor, both having recently secured spots in the semi-finals of the Turkish Cup, will face each other in the Turkish Super Lig on Monday evening. The visitors will aim to keep their title hopes alive mathematically.

The Black Sea team comes into this match after dropping crucial points during a challenging title race in the Super Lig, having registered two consecutive draws, leaving them six points behind leaders Galatasaray with four matches remaining.

Match overview

Konyaspor enters this match in relatively strong condition, boasting an unbeaten streak of eight matches across all competitions (6W, 2D), which has propelled them into the upper half of the table.

The hosts currently occupy around eighth place with 37 points from 30 matches. Their recent consistent performances have been supported by a balanced strategy at both ends of the field.

Ilhan Palut’s squad claimed a late 1-0 victory over Fenerbahce in the Turkish Cup, securing a spot to face Besiktas in the semi-final.

Konyaspor has triumphed in their last three matches among all competitions, including notable wins against Fatih Karagumruk (3-0) and Antalyaspor (2-0), demonstrating their ability to gain momentum at a critical point in the season.

Particularly impressive has been their home form, which shows an impressive 12-match unbeaten streak on their own ground (6W, 6D), proving challenging for visiting teams.

They’ve also secured two victories in their last home outings against Trabzonspor, although they did suffer a defeat in the reverse fixture with a score of 3-1.

With relegation no longer an immediate concern, the hosts are now aiming to finish the season strongly and possibly contend for a higher mid-table position.

In contrast, Trabzonspor arrives in Konya with much more at stake, maintaining their pursuit of the league title despite facing some recent challenges.

The visitors are currently positioned near the top of the standings with 65 points, and although securing the league title seems a daunting undertaking now, Fatih Tekke’s squad will strive to stay in contention for as long as possible.

However, back-to-back draws in the league – 1-1 ties with Alanyaspor and Istanbul Basaksehir – have hindered their momentum at a critical juncture in the title race, leaving little room for error in the upcoming fixtures.

Still, the Trabzon team comes here bolstered by a penalty shootout victory over Samsunspor in the Turkish Cup quarter-finals, which should serve as a confidence booster.

Team News

Konyaspor is currently dealing with a significant number of absentees due to both disciplinary and injury issues, with Josip Calusic, Guilherme Haubert Sitya, and Alassane Ndao all serving suspensions.

Additionally, Riechedly Bazoer and Morten Bjorlo are also unavailable after receiving enough yellow cards.

On the injury front, Ufuk Akyol remains out with a long-term knee injury, while the status of Jackson Muleka and Ugurcan Yazgili is still uncertain.

Trabzonspor will be missing veteran winger Edin Visca, who has been sidelined with a broken foot and has missed a significant portion of the season.

Also on the injury list is the young defender Taha Emre Ince, who is presently inactive due to cartilage damage, while Arseniy Batagov’s availability is in doubt.

Konyaspor probable starting XI:

Gungordu; Andzouana, Nagalo, Demirbag, Kutlu; Ibrahimoglu, Jevtovic; Turuc, Bardhi, Olaigbe; Kramer

Trabzonspor probable starting XI:

That’s right; Pina, Nwaiwu, Savic, Eskihellac; Tuffan, Oulay; Zubkov, Augustus, Standing; Onuachu

Konyaspor’s impressive home record and current form indicate they will provide a tough challenge for the visitors, especially in light of Trabzonspor’s recent slip-ups.

Nonetheless, with the title race still within reach, Trabzonspor’s superior quality and urgency could be pivotal, leading us to anticipate a closely contested match.