Preview: Caykur Rizespor vs. Istanbul Basaksehir - prediction, team news, lineups

Istanbul Basaksehir will look to claim their third consecutive league victory when they travel to the Yeni Rize Sehir Stadium to face Caykur Rizespor in the Super Lig on Friday.

The hosts enter the contest in the relegation zone with four points separating them from safety after winning only once in their previous eight games.

Match preview

Caykur Rizespor head into Friday's encounter in a precarious position as they find themselves embroiled in a battle to remain in the Turkish top flight.

Winless in their last three games, Hamza Hamzaoglu's side need to start picking up victories if they are to avoid their first relegation since the 2016-17 season.

After a goalless draw and a 3-1 defeat, Caykur Rizespor played out another 0-0 last weekend when they faced fellow relegation rivals Altay.

Having picked up 20 of their 23 points at home this season, Friday's hosts will know how important their remaining home games will be in their fight to remain in the Super Lig.

Although they face tough opposition on Friday, Caykur Rizespor will at the very least be hopeful that they can trouble the Istanbul Basaksehir defence having scored in 10 of their last 11 home league matches.

As for the visitors, they have aspirations of qualifying for European competition and head into Friday's encounter in a top-four position.

Spirits will be high in the away dressing room after Emre Belozoglu's men followed a 1-0 away victory against Fenerbahce with a 2-0 home win over Gaziantep at the weekend.

In that contest, goals from Pizzi and Serdar Gurler guided Istanbul Basaksehir to their eighth home league victory of the season.

An away fixture awaits them on Friday, with the visitors aiming to continue their impressive defensive form on the road, having conceded just five goals in their previous eight away league games.

Although they do have a tendency to concede late on their travels after shipping seven of their 13 away goals conceded in the final 30 minutes of matches.

Team News

The hosts are expected to be without the services of Gokhan Akkan, Loic Remy and Aminu Umar due to injury issues.

Erik Sabo will return to the squad after serving a one-match suspension, while Gokhan Gonul may come back into the starting lineup after dropping down to the bench against Altay.

Caykur Rizespor's main goal threat will come from Joel Pohjanpalo, who has scored eight league goals this season.

Meanwhile, the visitors could welcome back Tolga Cigerci and Leo Duarte into the starting lineup after the pair missed the Gaziantep clash through suspension.

Trezeguet will retain his place in the starting lineup after making his debut for his new side in the 2-0 victory last time out.

Stefano Okaka has top-scored for Istanbul Basaksehir in the league this season, and he will look to add to his nine-goal tally on Friday.

Caykur Rizespor possible starting lineup:

Cetmin; Gonul, Ay, Holmen, Sertel; Fernandes, Baiano, Boldrin; Sari, Bolasie, Pohjanpalo

Istanbul Basaksehir possible starting lineup:

Babacan; Caicara, Ndayishimiye, Duarte, Kaldirim; Ozcan, Cigerci, Pizzi; Gurler, Trezeguet, Okaka

We say: Caykur Rizespor 1-2 Istanbul Basaksehir

Istanbul Basaksehir have won four of the last five meetings between the two sides, and we think that the visitors will have enough quality to claim all three points on Friday as they continue their quest for European qualification.