Preview: Adana Demirspor vs. Hatayspor - prediction, team news, lineups

Surprise early title challengers Hatayspor travel to Adana Demirspor in the Turkish Super Lig on Sunday.

After 11 games of the campaign, the Antakya-based outfit sit second in the table, while their hosts have made a steady start to life in the top flight and are 12th.

Match preview

Having won the second tier in 2020, Hatayspor finished sixth last season and have now made even further progress in the early stages of this campaign.

Omer Erdogan's side have seven wins from their last nine matches and trail unbeaten league leaders Trabzonspor by four points.

A 1-0 win over reigning champions Besiktas, earned through Saba Lobzhanidze's goal after just six minutes, was their biggest statement of intent so far.

Hatayspor are unbeaten in four away matches, not losing on the road since August, while they have the best defence in the Super Lig with just eight goals conceded.

The Antakya-based side are also unbeaten in their last five matches against Adana Demirspor, last losing to them in September 2018.

Hatayspor's success could serve as inspiration to Adana Demirspor, who were second tier title winners themselves last season, ending a 26-year absence from the top flight in the process.

Promotion-winning manager Samet Aybaba surprisingly resigned at the end of August and was replaced by former AC Milan boss Vincenzo Montella, who has had a mixed start to life in the New Adana Stadium dugout.

The Italian won three of his first five matches in charge, but is now without a victory in three league games, placing Adana Demirspor four points above the relegation zone.

The Blue Lightnings took the lead through Britt Assombalonga against Istanbul Basaksehir last weekend, but conceded two second half goals, including a penalty in the 91st minute, to lose 2-1.

Team News

Adana Demirspor continue to be without midfield pair Lucas Castro and Younes Belhanda, who are sidelined through injury.

Montella will be able to welcome back David Akintola, who was suspended for the trip to Istanbul on Monday.

Top scorer Mario Balotelli will be pushing to return to the starting lineup and if he does so, Britt Assombalonga may be moved to the wing.

Hatayspor boss Omer Erdogan could name an unchanged team following their impressive win over Besiktas last weekend.

Goalkeeper Munir has kept the most clean sheets in the Super Lig this season (five), with three of those coming away from home.

Onur Ergun remains the only player in the squad who is sidelined through injury.

Adana Demirspor possible starting lineup:

Muric; Svensson, Akaydin, Deli, Rassoul; Kurt, Stambouli; Akgun, Bjarnson, Assombalonga; Balotelli

Hatayspor possible starting lineup:

Munir; Corekci, Kurucuk, Oksuz, Adekugbe; Traore, Ribeiro, Boudjemaa; Lobzhanidze, Diouf, El Kaabi

We say: Adana Demirspor 1-2 Hatayspor

We think that Hatayspor will continue their impressive run of form, despite the signs of promise shown by Adana Demirspor. The Antakya-based side's win over Besiktas shows they are capable of beating the league's best and they will be eager to keep pace with Trabzonspor.