Preview: Kocaelispor vs Amed SK - prediction, team news, lineups

Kocaelispor host Amed SK at Kocaeli Stadyumu on Monday, bringing a close to the second round of the Turkish Super Lig season, with the hosts looking to pick up their first points of the campaign.

Both teams had contrasting fortunes on the opening weekend, with Selcuk Inan's men beaten comfortably by Istanbul Basaksehir, while the newly promoted visitors produced an impressive victory over fellow newcomers Erzurumspor in their first top-flight home fixture.

Match preview

Kocaelispor were beaten 2-0 away at Istanbul Basaksehir on the opening weekend, with Christopher Operi's early strike and Eldor Shomurodov's second-half goal condemning Inan's side to a difficult start.

Inan was honest in his post-match assessment, admitting that the difference in quality between the two teams ultimately proved decisive while praising his players' effort, though he also felt his side could have taken something from the match had they avoided conceding a second goal.

Kocaelispor finished 10th last season, avoiding relegation with 37 points despite scoring just 26 goals, the lowest total in the division — their lack of attacking production was a major weakness, and Inan will be hoping to see greater threat in the final third when his side make their home debut of the season.

Their home form was the foundation of last season's mid-table finish, with the Kocaeli side collecting 23 of their 37 points at Kocaeli Stadyumu, and they now have an opportunity to put that advantage to use against a newly promoted side.

Monday's fixture will be the first top-flight meeting between the teams, although Kocaelispor will take confidence from their most recent encounter when the Izmit-based club beat Amed 1-0 at home in February 2025.

Amed had won the previous three meetings between the sides, including two victories in the third tier and another in one of their two second-tier encounters.

The visitors will be hoping to return to winning ways on the road after making an emphatic start to their first Super Lig campaign, marking their historic home debut at this level with a 3-0 victory over Erzurumspor, with Dia Saba scoring twice in the second half after Gokhan Gul had opened the scoring.

Besnik Hasi's summer rebuild already appears to be paying dividends, as the club brought in nine new players, including Scottish centre-back David Bates and Kosovo international Lumbardh Dellova, and the newcomers quickly looked settled in their opening fixture.

Hasi will now want his side to prove that their victory over Erzurumspor was not a one-off with Amed facing another side that only got back into the top flight last season, as they look to reproduce the attacking quality they displayed in their opening match, this time away from home.

Kocaelispor Turkish Super Lig form:

Amed SK Turkish Super Lig form:

Team News

Kocaelispor have no fresh injury concerns following the defeat to Basaksehir, although goalkeeper Aleksandar Jovanovic remains sidelined as he continues his recovery from a knee injury suffered last season.

Croatian forward Bruno Petkovic, who scored seven league goals last season, is also unavailable while recovering from a hamstring injury that has kept him out since April.

Rigoberto Rivas should retain his place in attack as he searches for his first goal of the campaign, with Tayfur Bingol expected to operate behind him.

Amed have no major fitness concerns following their impressive victory over Erzurumspor, and Hasi could name an unchanged XI after seeing his new-look side perform so effectively on the opening weekend.

Saba will look to build on his brace from the first game, starting on the left side of the attack, while new signing Gift Orban should operate on the right after providing an assist on his debut. Mbaye Diagne is expected to lead the line.

Kocaelispor possible starting lineup:

Oztasdelen; Yildiz, Dijksteel, Zoukrou, Haidara; Kutlu, Show; Baku, Bingol, Agyei; Rivas

Amed SK possible starting lineup:

Lafont; Yesil, Dellova, Bates; Sor, Ustundag, Raveloson, Krasniqi; Orban, Diagne, Saba

We say: Kocaelispor 2-2 Amed SK

Amed's attacking form and the confidence gained from their emphatic opening-weekend victory give them a genuine advantage, even without the emotional lift of playing in front of their home supporters.

Kocaelispor should improve with home advantage and will be determined to respond after their defeat at Basaksehir, but their limited attacking output last season remains a concern.

We expect the visitors’ attacking quality to cause troubles for the home side who are still searching for the cutting edge that eluded them in Istanbul.

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