Preview: Gaziantep vs Alanyaspor - prediction, team news, lineups

Two sides settled in the relatively safe but largely unremarkable middle of the Turkish Super Lig table will attempt to generate some late-season momentum when Gaziantep welcome Alanyaspor to Gaziantep Stadyumu on Saturday afternoon.

The hosts are searching for just their second victory in any competition since mid-February (1W, 2D, 4L), while the visitors arrive with a three-match unbeaten run to protect (1W, 2D).

Match preview

Gaziantep have struggled to find consistency in recent weeks, winning just one of their last six league matches, scoring seven goals while conceding 11 in that period.

Despite that, they had managed to remain unbeaten in three successive Super Lig games before suffering a heavy 4-1 defeat away to Fenerbahce prior to the international break.

Nene Dorgeles opened the scoring in the first half to give Fenerbahce the advantage at the interval, but Alexandru Maxim briefly restored parity from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute – however, N’Golo Kante struck seven minutes later to restore the hosts’ lead before Dorgeles completed his hat-trick to seal a convincing victory.

Gaziantep have played their last two matches away from home and will now hope that a return to familiar surroundings can help them bounce back immediately, although recent history against Alanyaspor suggests that will not be straightforward.

The Falcons are without a victory in their last four meetings with the visitors, losing three and drawing once – a goalless stalemate earlier this season – with two of those defeats coming at Gaziantep Stadyumu.

Their recent home form also leaves room for concern, having lost to Trabzonspor in the league and Fenerbahce in the Turkish Cup, before being held to a disappointing draw by Fatih Karagumruk in another league outing.

With the hosts sitting ninth on 33 points and Alanyaspor just two points behind them in 10th place, the visitors will view this encounter as an opportunity to leapfrog their hosts and move into the top half of the table.

The Thunders will also draw confidence from their recent record at this ground, having won each of their last three league visits to Gaziantep Stadyumu, scoring seven goals without conceding.

Further encouragement arrived just before the international break when they produced a commanding 5-0 victory over Kocaelispor, with five different players getting on the scoresheet – two before the interval and three after – in what was their most emphatic league win in history.

That triumph followed draws against Goztepe (2-2) and Genclerbirligi (0-0), meaning the visitors are now unbeaten in three matches after previously suffering three consecutive competitive defeats.

They will be eager to maintain that momentum while also attempting to end an 11-match away winless streak in the Super Lig (9D, 2L).

Gaziantep Turkish Super Lig form:

Gaziantep form (all competitions):

Alanyaspor Turkish Super Lig form:

Alanyaspor form (all competitions):

Team News

Gaziantep head into this game nursing several injury concerns, with Kevin Rodrigues sidelined with a hamstring problem, Denis Dragus, Ali Mevran Ablak and Salem M’Bakata are all out with knee injuries, and Badou Ndiaye close to a returning but remains a doubt for this match.

Guinean striker Mohamed Bayo, currently on loan from Lille, has been one of the standout performers in the Turkish top flight this season – with 12 league goals, he is the Falcons’ leading scorer and among the five most prolific forwards in the division, making him the player to watch once again.

Maxim is expected to support him in attack, with the Romanian playmaker aiming to score his third goal in four league matches.

For Alanyaspor, the main absentee is Yusuf Ozdemir, who is serving a suspension imposed by the sports court following his involvement in a betting scandal that shook Turkish football earlier in the season.

Maestro is also nearing the end of his recovery from an ankle injury that has kept him sidelined since the beginning of February after last appearing on January 31.

Steve Mounie, who found the net for Benin during the international break, is likely to lead the line for the visitors and will be hoping to end a three-match goal drought for the Thunders.

Gaziantep possible starting lineup:

Bozan; Sanuc, Mujakic, Abena; Perez, Kozlowski, Kabasakal, Gassama, Kabadayi; Maxim, Bayo

Alanyaspor possible starting lineup:

Victor; Akdag, Aliti, Lima; Hadergjonaj, Makouta, Janvier, Ruan; Hagi, Hwang Ui-Jo; Mounie

We say: Gaziantep 1-1 Alanyaspor

Alanyaspor's historic dominance in this fixture and the confidence of the 5-0 win last time out should give them good reason to fancy their chances on the road, though we expect Gaziantep to take something from this, as the visitors have not shown consistency all season.

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