Samsunspor vs Kayserispor – News and Probable Lineups

Two teams with differing aspirations, both facing challenges in the Turkish Super Lig, aim to reverse their current trajectories when Samsunspor takes on Kayserispor at Samsun 19 Mayis Stadyumu on Sunday evening.

The Red Lightning has encountered a hurdle in their hopes for continental competition, while their domestic ambitions have stalled; however, their circumstances are still significantly better than those of Kayserispor, who are entrenched in a relegation battle.

Match overview

Samsunspor has represented Turkish football well in the UEFA Conference League this season, yet their promising European journey received a serious setback midweek after a disappointing 3-1 home loss to Spain’s Rayo Vallecano in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

Despite controlling 54% of the possession, Thorsten Fink’s team was repeatedly exposed to the visitors’ effective counter-attacks. Although Marius Mouandilmadji briefly equalized in the 21st minute after an early goal from Rayo, the Spanish side regained the lead before half-time and added a late third, taking charge of the matchup.

Prior to that defeat, Samsunspor had already experienced disappointment in the league, as last weekend they faced a heartbreaking 3-2 loss against an undefeated Fenerbahce side, despite leading twice through Mouandilmadji.

Holding a 2-1 lead late in the game, the Red Lightning seemed poised for a crucial win, only to see their defense crumble under relentless pressure, conceding two goals in the dying moments — at the 89th and 95th minutes.

This result extended Samsunspor’s winless streak in the league to five matches (2D, 3L) and left them positioned eighth in the table with 32 points.

While they remain comfortably within the top half of the standings, the gap to the European qualification spots is widening, making their Conference League campaign increasingly significant.

Nonetheless, the hosts have a favorable opportunity to return to winning ways against a struggling Kayserispor team currently residing in the relegation zone. Encouragingly for Samsunspor, they have triumphed in their last four league encounters against Sunday’s rivals.

On the other hand, Kayserispor finds themselves two points below safety with nine matches left in the season, and their recent form is not inspiring confidence.

The Anatolian Star has managed just a single victory in their last 11 games (5D, 5L) and only three wins from 25 league matches this season (5D, 17L).

Their last fixture ended in a 3-1 loss at home to Trabzonspor, halting a short unbeaten streak of three matches (1W, 2D).

Kayserispor’s difficulties have manifested at both ends of the pitch, with 46 goals conceded so far this season — a figure matched only by last-place Fatih Karagumruk — while their attacking performance has been equally troubling.

Manager Erling Moe, who came on board in late February, has seen two league matches so far without securing a victory, and achieving a positive result here could not only mark his first success in charge but could also prove crucial in the relegation battle, especially with fellow strugglers Kasimpasa and Eyupspor set to compete against each other this weekend.

Team News

Samsunspor is facing significant defensive challenges ahead of this match, with Rick van Drongelen and Yunus Emre Cift suspended due to accumulated yellow cards.

Bedirhan Cetin is also out due to a serious knee injury from a cruciate ligament tear, while Afonso Sousa is still recuperating from an ankle issue.

Additionally, Jaures Assoumou is unavailable after sustaining a recent injury, leaving the coaching staff with limited options, particularly in defense.

Kayserispor, for their part, will be missing Abdulsamet Burak, who is still serving a long-term ban.

Experienced defender Majid Hosseini has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a severe cruciate ligament injury.

In midfield, Dorukhan Tokoz won’t feature after receiving a straight red card in the loss to Trabzonspor, while young midfielder Yigit Emre Celtik is also absent with a cruciate ligament injury.

Kayra Cihan has been listed as inactive due to a knee cyst, and Lionel Carole’s fitness remains uncertain as he manages a thigh issue.

Samsunspor probable starting XI:

Kocuk; Borevkovic, Sakta, Kayan, Tomasson; Makoumbou; Holse, Ntcham, Yuksel, Mendes; Marius

Kayserispor probable starting XI:

Bayazit; Brenet, Guler, Denswil, Civelek; Ait Bennasser, Benes; Makarov, Chalov, Soyalp; Cardoso

While Samsunspor might be experiencing a tough patch, their overall quality and attacking potential should provide them an advantage against a Kayserispor team that has struggled throughout the season.

The visitors’ defensive weaknesses and inability to score have been evident issues, and their away status is unlikely to alleviate these difficulties — if the hosts can find their attacking rhythm again, they should have what it takes to secure a much-needed win.