Fenerbahce face Antalyaspor at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on Friday hoping to close the gap with the top four.
With just about every major league in the world suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak we are aware that a lot of you will be following the Super Lig for the first time – brace yourselves!
So we have put together in-depth previews for you to digest over the footballing drought.
As things stand the Turkish league will go ahead as scheduled despite the coronavirus outbreak.
READ: Turkish league will not be suspended despite coronavirus outbreak says federation president, all games will resume without fans until end of April
Fenerbahce Team News
Fenerbahce will be without Nabil Dirar, Max Kruse, Sadik Ciftpinar and Altay Bayindir through injury.
Hasan Ali Kaldirim meanwhile, is out suspended.
With Bayindir out Harun Tekin is likely to start in goal.
Serdar Aziz and Falette should start in defence but central midfielders Jailson and Gustavo did get the nod as Fenerbahce’s center-back pairing last week – with disastrous consequences.
Falette was on the bench against Konyaspor last week after recovering from injury and should be match ready for the Kayserispor clash.
Deniz Turuc who isn’t a left-back has been playing out of position. That could continue due to injuries.
Isla is likely to feature at right-back.
We could see Ozan Tufan and Gustavo as the central midfield pairing with Rodrigues and Mehmet Ekici out wide and Zajc as the No 10 playing behind Vedat Muriqi upfront.
Kayserispor Team News
Kayserispor will be without Miguel Lopes, Alpay Celebi and Leven Gulen through injury. Gustavo Campanharo and Pedro Henrique are suspended.
Preview:
Fenerbahce have been in disastrous form losing three of their last six games – and drawing the other three.
To make matters worse the Istanbul gıants are wıthout a manager after Ersun Yanal was sacked.
Zeki Murat Gole is currently in charge as a caretaker manager but he has not managed to get the team performing any better.
The Yellow-Navies have gone seven games without a win and European football qualification is looking unlikely with nine points separating them from a top-four spot.
At this rate the Istanbul giants could end up doing worse than last season. Which seems unbelievable but that is where we are at.
Kayserispor meanwhile, are last but they have won two of their last three games. Another victory could see them join Malatyaspor – who are hovering just above the drop zone in 15th place – on 25 points.
Fenerbahce’s biggest concern is at the back. Going forwards they have had no problem scoring and striker Vedat Muriqi has 15 goals and six assists in all competitions this season.
Kayserispor meanwhile, have the worst defensive record in the league. They have managed to concede an astonishing 62 goals.
There will be no fans at the game due to the ban against public gatherings to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
As a result, there will not be the same kind of fan pressure that Fenerbahce would usually be under after such a poor run of results.
It could well benefit them. Kayserispor will not be complaining either. Playing away against Fenerbahce is never easy because of the atmosphere.
But with no fans there is no real home advantage.
I just can’t back Fenerbahce right now. But I do see them scoring against Kayserispor. The same applies for the visitors.
Prediction: Over 2.5 goals
Fenerbahce probable lineups: Harun Tekin, Turuc, Aziz, Falette, Isla, Tufan, Gustavo, Rodrigues, Zajc, Ekici, Muriqi
Kayserispor probable lineups: Jr, Kvrzic, Sapunaru, Angelo, Tasdemir, Djedje, Rienstra, Acar, Mensah, Situm, Kravets
