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

Istanbul Basaksehir will welcome continental aspirants Besiktas to Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium in the Istanbul derby on Thursday evening.

The hosts are four points behind the visitors, who are in fourth place and will look to close the gap on the European Conference League spot.

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Match preview

Istanbul Basaksehir's three-game winning streak came to an end with a 2-1 defeat by Ankaragucu at the Eryaman Stadium before the international break.

The loss dropped Cagdas Atan's side to seventh in the Super Lig table, but they remain four points behind fourth-placed Besiktas, who also lost their last game.

After finishing fifth last season, Basaksehir are on course to repeat that feat and still have a chance of breaking into the top four.

The Grey Owls played friendlies against Tuzlaspor and Kocaelispor during the break, winning both games 4-1 and 5-2 respectively.

They have won their last two home games, beating Antalyaspor and Samsunspor, and will look to make it three in a row against a side that has beaten them in their last two meetings.

Besiktas' European qualification is looking shaky after losing their last three league matches and sitting just one point ahead of fifth-placed Rizespor.

In their last match before the break, the Black Eagles lost 2-1 to Antalyaspor at the Turk Telekom Stadium, following defeats to Gaziantep and Galatasaray.

While Fernando Santos's side remain in fourth place with 46 points, the gap behind them is closing, and any further slip-up could see them drop out of the Europa Conference League spot.

Besiktas played in two friendlies during the break, defeating Buducnost Podgorica 5-1 before drawing 1-1 with Fatih Karagumruk. Santos will hope his side can maintain their scoring form, having scored just one goal in their last three league matches while conceding five.

They have picked up 20 points from 15 away matches but have struggled recently on the road, winning only once, losing three times, and drawing one in their last five.

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Team News

The hosts will be without Deniz Turuc for this match as he is suspended due to accumulated yellow cards.

The duo of Patryk Szysz and Efe Arda Koyuncu are both nursing ACL injuries and are sidelined for this match.

Basaksehir's leading scorer Krzysztof Piatek is expected to lead the line again, as he looks to add to his 13 goals in the league this season.

Besiktas will be without Salih Ucan, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Yakup Arda Kilic and Tayfur Bingol, who are all sidelined with varying degree of injuries.

Cenk Tosun should start in attack once again, while Ernest Muci plays in the supporting role.

Daniel Amartey is expected to play alongside Gedson Fernandes in a midfield two, protecting the defence and launching attacks.

Istanbul Basaksehir possible starting lineup: Babacan; Sahiner, Opoku, Ba, Abeid; Davidson; Aleksic, Figueiredo, Davidson, Turuc; Piatek

Besiktas possible starting lineup: Gunok; Svensson, Colley, Worrall, Terzi; Fernandes, Amartey; Rashica, Muci, Kilicsoy; Tosun

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We say: Istanbul Basaksehir 1-1 Besiktas

Besiktas are struggling and the break could not have come at a better time for them. Basaksehir might have lost their last match but they have been solid in recent games compared to their opponents. However, we expect the game to be a draw.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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