Fatih Karagumruk will play host to Kasimpasa on Saturday and with just two points separating the sides in the Super Lig table, it promises to be an intriguing contest.

The hosts have won just once in their last five matches in all competitions, while Kasimpasa have collected maximum points from their last four games.

Match preview

With seven matches left to play, Fatih Karagumruk occupy a comfortable mid-table position and though their stay in the top flight looks set to extend into a third season, they will still be hoping to finish the season on a positive note.

Sitting in 10th place, Saturday's hosts will be looking to finish in the top half of the Super Lig table for consecutive seasons, but with one win from their last four league matches, they are at risk of dropping down the standings.

A 3-0 home victory over Kayserispor would have lifted spirits in the Fatih Karagumruk dressing room, but they were unable to build upon that win, losing 2-0 away to Galatasaray in their last outing.

A goal apiece for Bafetimbi Gomis and Ryan Babel in the opening 12 minutes gave Galatasaray all three points, while condemning Fatih Karagumruk to back-to-back away defeats.

Volkan Demirel's side will now return to home surroundings and that will come as a welcome relief to a team that are unbeaten in their last four home matches.

Kasimpasa, meanwhile, ended February just two points above the drop zone, but after collecting four consecutive victories, they now occupy 11th position with 12 points separating them from the bottom four.

Like their hosts, Kasimpasa will also be aiming to finish in the top half, and they could leapfrog their opponents into 10th place with a victory on Saturday.

Goals have been flowing in recent weeks, with Saturday's visitors scoring at least two goals in each of their last four matches.

The most recent of those contests took place last Sunday when they played host to Gaziantep, and the opening 35 minutes suggested that it would be a tough encounter for Kasimpasa after they were reduced to 10 men, when Haris Hajradinovic was given his marching orders before Papy Djilobodji netted to give Gaziantep the lead.

Jackson Muleka, however, ensured that his side would go into the break level before the numerical disadvantage was wiped out in the 65th minute when Djilobodji was sent-off and with the game heading to a draw, Florent Hadergjonaj struck from the spot in the sixth minute of stoppage time to give Kasimpasa their fourth consecutive victory.

Team News

A back problem is expected to keep Fabio Borini out of the Fatih Karagumruk squad, while Karim Frei and Rayyan Baniya also remain sidelined.

The hosts will welcome back Burak Bekaroglu after the defender missed last weekend's encounter through suspension and his return could result in Derrick Luckassen dropping down to the bench.

Despite missing a late penalty against Galatasaray, Aleksandar Pesic is set to lead the line for the home side on Saturday.

As for the visitors, they are still unable to call upon the services of Sakib Aytac with an injury issue keeping the 30-year-old in the treatment room.

Kasimpasa will have to make two changes in the middle of the park, as Hajradinovic and Valentin Eysseric are both suspended for the contest with the latter unavailable due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

Those suspensions are likely to result in starting opportunities for Dogucan Haspolat and Michal Travnik, who will both come into the midfield.

Fatih Karagumruk possible starting lineup:
Viviano; Dursun, Biraschi, Bekaroglu, Balkovec; Mor, Toure, Biglia, Bistrovic, Durmaz; Pesic

Kasimpasa possible starting lineup:
Taskiran; Hadergjonaj, Spajic, Serbest, Elmali; Muleka, Aabid, Haspolat, Travnik, Ben Ouanes; Bozok

We say: Fatih Karagumruk 1-1 Kasimpasa

Kasimpasa enter the contest in imperious form, but the hosts have proven to be a tough team to beat in their last four home matches, and we think that Fatih Karagumruk will be able to hold the visitors to a point on Saturday.

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