Istanbulspor will be bidding to move out of the Turkish Super Lig relegation zone when they welcome Fatih Karagumruk to Esenyurt Necmi Kadioglu Stadium on Monday night.
The home side are currently 16th in the table, one point behind 15th-placed Ankaragucu, while Karagumruk occupy ninth spot, seven points ahead of the relegation zone.
Match preview
Istanbulspor have won seven, drawn three and lost 14 of their 24 league matches this season to collect 24 points, which is only good enough for 16th position in the table.
The hosts are only one point behind Ankatagucu directly above them, though, so it is not quite time to hit the panic button despite their position in the relegation zone.
The Bulls were promoted to Turkey's top flight via last season's second-tier playoffs, so avoiding relegation is their main priority for the current campaign.
Fatih Tekke's side were last in league action on March 18, suffering a 3-1 loss to Besiktas, but they have won three of their last four in the Turkish Super Lig, including their last home fixture against Sivasspor.
Istanbulspor actually have the second-worst home record in the division this term, picking up just 11 points from 11 matches, and they will be welcoming a Karagumruk side that have collected 14 points on their travels.
© Reuters
The visitors have Andrea Pirlo at the helm, with the 43-year-old, widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the history of the game, taking charge in June 2022.
Pirlo boasts a record of nine wins, 11 draws and seven defeats from his 27 games at the helm, and his side will enter this match off the back of a 10-game unbeaten run in the league.
Karagumruk have not been beaten in the Turkish Super Lig since the end of December, but they have drawn their last two, both 2-2, against Giresunspor and Istanbul Basaksehir.
The Istanbul outfit have picked up 31 points from their 24 league matches this season to sit ninth in the table, seven points ahead of their opponents in this contest.
Karagumruk finished eighth in Turkey's top flight last season, and they have been present at this level since gaining promotion from the second tier in 2020.
Team News
Istanbulspor will be without the services of Duhan Aksu through suspension, while Eduard Rroca remains on the sidelines with a muscular problem.
The home side did not pick up any new injury problems in their defeat to Besiktas, so it would not be a shock to see close to the same starting XI for Monday night's contest.
Aksu's spot at left-back is likely to be taken by Oguzhan Berber, but Emeka Eze should again lead the line for the home side in this match.
Karagumruk will be missing Emir Tintis, Efecan Mizrakci and Efe Tatli through injury on Monday night.
The team did not pick up any fresh concerns in their draw with Istanbul Basaksehir last time out, though, with Fabio Borini and Mbaye Diagne set to feature in the final third of the field.
Diagne and Borini have both scored 15 league goals during the 2022-23 campaign, and the pair will continue in attack with support from Ebrima Colley and Otabek Shukurov in the wide areas.
Istanbulspor possible starting lineup:
Jensen; Duhaney, Yesil, Deli, Berber; Lokilo, Ba, Sarikaya, Ethemi; Loshaj; Eze
Fatih Karagumruk possible starting lineup:
Sen; Biraschi, Baniya, Dresevic, Mercan; Shukurov, Ricci, Bertolacci; Colley, Diagne, Borini
We say: Istanbulspor 1-1 Fatih Karagumruk
Karagumruk will enter this match as the favourites, with Pirlo's side looking to extend their long unbeaten run; we are expecting them to avoid defeat here, but Istanbulspor have enough quality to secure a share of the spoils in Monday night's contest.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
