Samsunspor vs Konyaspor – News and Probable Lineups

Challenges for survival and the toll of an intense European campaign come together as Samsunspor hosts Konyaspor at Samsun 19 Mayis Stadyumu on Sunday afternoon for a Turkish Super Lig round 28 fixture.

The home team has recently come out of their most intense and demanding period in club history, as the pressures of their inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League journey began to impact their league performances. Meanwhile, Konyaspor arrives in improving form late in the season, quietly reviving their ambitions of maintaining their top-flight position.

Match overview

For a side that was competing in the second division of Turkish football not long ago, this season has been quite extraordinary for Samsunspor – not necessarily in domestic play but due to their unprecedented European campaign.

The Red Lightning participated in the Conference League for the first time and demonstrated real quality in the group stage, achieving three wins, one draw, and two losses to progress to the knockout rounds, where their run was halted in the last 16 by Rayo Vallecano, who narrowly won 3-2 on aggregate.

The Spanish team scored three times in the first leg played in Samsun, with Marius Mouandilmadji’s late goal providing only a momentary reprieve in a 3-1 loss. Even though Samsunspor went to Madrid and secured a 1-0 victory in the second leg thanks to Cherif Ndiaye’s counter-attack just before the international break, the consequences had already been sealed.

With their European endeavors now concluded, the team can fully shift their focus back to the league, where Thorsten Fink’s squad sits seventh on the table with 35 points from 26 games. This season has been both historic and draining, positioning them further away from the European qualification spots.

The last time Samsunspor played in the Super Lig, they managed to win 2-1 at home against Kayserispor, breaking a five-match winless streak in the league that included two draws and three defeats. Their round 27 match against Caykur Rizespor was postponed due to scheduling conflicts caused by their European engagements; hence, they have one less game played compared to most teams.

The rescheduled match against Rizespor is scheduled for Thursday, but first, the Red Lightning must face Konyaspor, a team they have defeated in their last two matchups, including a 3-1 win in Konya earlier this season.

However, this contest might not be as simple as their previous victories, with Konyaspor arriving in northern Turkey as a resurgent force, having amassed 10 points from their last 15 available in the league – five more than Samsunspor during the same timeframe.

A side that had a 12-match winless streak earlier in the season has begun to demonstrate signs of resurgence at a pivotal moment, as the Anatolian Eagles have won three of their last five encounters, including a recent 1-0 win against Genclerbirligi, along with one draw and one loss.

These outcomes have allowed them to establish a seven-point buffer above the relegation zone, placing Konyaspor 14th in the standings. Their situation would improve even further if they manage to achieve their third successive win for the first time this season.

Recent away results are also positive for Ilhan Palut’s squad, who secured victories in their last two matches on the road – a 1-0 win over Eyupspor in the Turkish Cup followed by a 2-1 league win against Kocaelispor.

Historical data also offers the visitors reassurance, as Konyaspor remains unbeaten in their last five trips to Samsun, with four draws and a 1-0 win in their most recent visit in 2024.

Team News

Samsunspor will still be missing captain Olivier Ntcham, who sustained a hamstring injury before the international break, while Bedirhan Cetin continues to recuperate from a cruciate ligament injury.

Afonso Sousa remains out due to an ankle issue, Jaures Assoumou is also sidelined because of injury, and Lubomir Satka is dealing with a hand fracture at present.

Mouandilmadji is expected to lead the attack once more as he aims to increase his tally of five league goals this season, with Carlo Holse likely to provide creative support from an advanced midfield role.

Konyaspor, on the other hand, will be without Ufuk Akyol for the remainder of the season following his cruciate ligament surgery, having already missed a significant amount of the campaign.

Guilherme Haubert Sitya is suspended for this upcoming match, while Rayyan Baniya remains a doubt and will be evaluated before kickoff.

Samsunspor probable starting XI:

Kocuk; Cift, Sakta, the Drongel; Mendes, Makoumbou, Yuksel, Holse, Tomasson; Holse; Mouandilmadji

Konyaspor probable starting XI:

Gungordu; Andzouana, Nagalo, Demirbag, Bosluk; Kutlu, Jevtovic; Turuc, Muleka, Olaigbe; Kramer

Both teams have very different motivations but share an urgent need for points, and while Samsunspor enjoys home-field advantage and the threat posed by Mouandilmadji, Konyaspor, having regained some form under Palut, possesses the potential and desire to claim a positive result from this match, much like they couldn’t in the initial meeting earlier in the season.