Round seven of the Turkish Super Lig gets underway at the New Hatay Stadium where Hatayspor and Kayserispor go head to head on Friday.
The hosts head into the weekend as one of just four sides yet to taste victory in the 2022-23 league campaign and will be looking to end this poor record.
Match preview
Hatayspor failed to get their 2022-23 Super Lig campaign up and running last Saturday when they were condemned to a 1-0 defeat by high-flying Konyaspor.
Following a drab first half at the Eskisehir New Ataturk Stadium, substitute Bruno Paz made his mark 20 minutes after his introduction as he found the back of the net to hand the hosts their fourth win on the bounce.
Serkan Ozbalta's men have now failed to win any of their opening five games of the season, picking up just one draw and losing five games, while they have managed just one win in 14 outings since March.
Hatayspor's underwhelming start to the new campaign could be pinned to their lack of sting at the attacking end of the pitch, where they have scored just twice and currently hold the division's joint-worst record, alongside Istanbulspor.
With just one point from their opening five games of the season, the Guneyin Yoldizi are currently bottom but one in the Super Lig standings, only above rock-bottom newly-promoted Ankaragucu on goal difference.
Kayserispor, on the other hand, maintained their perfect home record this season as they claimed a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Antalyaspor when the sides squared off last weekend.
Former Fenerbahce midfielder Mame Thiam came up clutch at the Kadir Has Sehir Stadi as he scored the only goal of the game six minutes before the hour mark to hand the home side their third home of the season.
While Kayserispor have been solid in front of their home fans, they have struggled to grind out results away from home, where they are currently on a four-game losing streak and have failed to win any of their last seven outings since April.
With nine points from their first six games of the season, Cagdas Atan's men are currently ninth in the league standings, but could rise as high as sixth place with all three points this weekend.
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Team News
Hatayspor will take to the pitch without the services of newly-signed 25-year-old midfielder Kerim Alici, who picked up a calf injury while in action for Goztepe against Erzurumspor on August 21.
After watching his side fail to pose any real threat in attack last time out, Ozbalta could ring a few changes to his XI, with 24-year-old forward Kevin Soni coming in for his debut following his move from Greek side Asteras Tripolis.
Meanwhile, Kayserispor will have to make do without the Turkish trio of Cenk Gonen, Emrah Bassan and Mustafa Pektemek, who have all been sidelined through injuries.
Former Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Ali Karimi is also set to sit out his fourth game on the bounce after coming off with a muscle problem against Istanbul Basaksehir on August 21.
Joseph Attamah is yet to make an appearance this season after picking up an injury back in May, while Majid Hosseini is a doubt after missing last weekend's game against Antalyaspor.
Hatayspor possible starting lineup:
Kardesler; Corekci, Yilmaz, Falette, Adekugbe; Boudjemaa, Ergun, Ribeiro; Soni, El Kaabi, Lobjanidze
Kayserispor possible starting lineup:
Bayazit; Bulut, Kocaman, Kolovetsios, Carole; Civelek, Campanharo, Cardoso; Mensah, Gavranovic, Thiam
We say: Hatayspor 1-2 Kayserispor
Kayserispor head into the weekend as firm favourites to pick up all three points as they take on a floundering Hatayspor side who are winless in their opening five games of the season and have managed one win since March.
We are backing Kayserispor to heap more misery on the hosts and pick up their first set of consecutive wins for the season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
