Preview: Kocaelispor vs Kayserispor - prediction, team news, lineups

Kocaelispor will host Kayserispor at the Kocaeli Stadyumu on Saturday evening as both sides search for their first victory of the Turkish Super Lig campaign.

Neither team has managed to record a win so far, and with early struggles defining their starts, three points could provide a much-needed boost to their seasons.

Match preview

Kocaelispor have endured a difficult start to life back in the top flight, sitting second from bottom after losing all three of their opening fixtures, scoring just once while conceding five.

Appointed in July, manager Selcuk Inan is still finding his footing, but his side’s defensive vulnerabilities were once again exposed in a 3-1 defeat to Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce last time out.

Before that, they fell back-to-back 1-0 losses, away to Trabzonspor and at home to Samsunspor.

The latter was particularly painful, with midfielder Samet Yalcin sent off just before half time and goalkeeper Aleksandar Jovanovic scoring a late own goal to hand the visitors victory.

Last season, under former boss Ismet Tasdemir, Kocaelispor finished top of the 1. Lig to secure promotion, but the adjustment to Super Lig football has been harsh.

They have yet to keep a clean sheet and have struggled in key areas such as maintaining possession, defending set pieces, and converting chances.

Kayserispor, meanwhile, have played two matches, drawing once and losing once, leaving them 14th in the table having found the net just once and conceded five.

Their most recent outing was a heavy 4-0 home defeat to Galatasaray, with Eren Elmali scoring twice, while Victor Osimhen and Leroy Sane also got on the scoresheet.

The visitors have a new manager in Markus Gisdol, who arrived in July, succeeding Sergej Jakirovic - under the latter last season, the Anatolian Star finished 13th with 45 points from 36 matches, scoring 45 goals but conceding 57.

Gisdol has begun implementing his style - favouring width, through balls, long passes, and frequent crossing - though his side remain vulnerable defensively, particularly against counter-attacks and aerial challenges.

Historically, these two teams rarely meet, with their last encounter dating back to 2009, and Kayserispor have won all four of their previous clashes with Kocaelispor.

Kocaelispor Turkish Super Lig form:

LLL

Kayserispor Turkish Super Lig form:

Team News

Kocaelispor will be without midfielder Samet Yalcin, who remains suspended after his red card against Samsunspor - he has already missed the Fenerbahce defeat and will not return until the following game.

Centre-back Mateusz Wieteska suffered a cruciate ligament injury in the season opener against Trabzonspor and is sidelined until April 2026, while winger Rigoberto Rivas is also unavailable with a muscle problem, with no set return date.

For Kayserispor, defender Arif Kocaman is doubtful after sustaining a muscle injury with no return date.

New arrivals Joao Mendes, Aaron Opoku, Dorukhan Tokoz, Gideon Jung, Laszlo Benes, Indrit Tuci and Stefano Denswil have all been integrated into the squad and featured in recent matches.

Meanwhile, defender Abdulsamet Burak is pushing for his first minutes of the campaign this weekend.

Kocaelispor possible starting lineup:

Jovanovic; Syrota, Dijksteel, Appindangoye, Haidara; Serbest, Show, Boende; Petkovic, Keles, Mendes

Kayserispor possible starting lineup:

Bayazit; Carole, Denswil, Hosseini, Sazdagi; Civelek, Jung; Cardoso, Mendes, Benes; Opoku