Preview: Ankaragucu vs. Besiktas - prediction, team news, lineups

Ankaragucu take on Besiktas in the Turkish Super Lig on Thursday, with the visitors aiming to move second in the table with a win.

The hosts, meanwhile, can move outside of the relegation zone by upsetting the odds with a victory.

Match preview

After finishing bottom last season, Ankaragacu were spared relegation after the Turkish Football Federation's decision to scrap demotion for the season due to COVID-19, instead extending the league to 21 teams.

This season, however, four teams will be relegated with the league reduced to 20 teams from next season, so Ankaragacu will need to up their game to remain a top-flight club.

The board appear to realise it, too, having sacked Fuat Capa after a poor start to the campaign saw the club take just two points from their opening seven games.

The players have responded to Mustafa Dalci, though, who has been promoted from assistant manager to head coach, with seven points from his first five games in charge edging Dalci's side closer to escaping the extended relegation zone.

© Reuters

Besiktas, meanwhile, finished third last season, but failed to progress to the Europa League knockout stages after losing on penalties to Portuguese outfit Rio Ave in the third qualifying round.

Sergin Yalcin's side have displayed very good form of late, though, winning eight of their last ten matches as they look to secure a first domestic title since 2017.

Vincent Aboubakar leads Turkey's top goalscorer chart with eight goals in nine starts, having struck twice in Sunday's 4-0 win against Buyuksehir Belediye Erzurumspor.

Should they defeat struggling Ankaragacu as expected, Yalcin's side will move to within a point of top spot.

Ankaragucu Turkish Super Lig form: LLLWWD

Besiktas Turkish Super Lig form: LWWWLW Besiktas form (all competitions): WWWLWW

Team News

Ankaragucu are without Michal Pazdan with a muscle injury, while Jonathan Bolingi is still suspended after his red card against Konyaspor.

Ante Kulisic is a doubt for unknown reasons.

Besiktas, meanwhile, are without former Manchester United winger Adam Ljajic, Gokhan Tore and Jermain Lens due to injuries.

Yalcin's namesake Guven Yalcin may have to be patient for a start in attack, with Aboubakar in excellent form.

Ankaragucu possible starting lineup: Friedrich; Kitsiou, Sarlija, Dikmen, Turan; Lobzhanidze, Pinto, Cankaya, Aygoren, Cekici; Gural

Besiktas possible starting lineup: Destanoglu; Uysal, Welinton, Vida, Yilmaz; Ghezzal, Mensah, Souza, Hutchinson, Nkdoudou; Aboubakar

We say: Ankaragucu 0-2 Besiktas

We can envisage a comfortable Besiktas victory despite the hosts picking up in recent weeks under their new manager.

Aboubakar should have too much physicality and quality for Ankaragucu to handle.

Top betting tip