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

On Saturday, Kocaelispor will welcome Samsunspor to Kocaeli Stadium for their first home fixture of the 2025-26 Turkish Super Lig season.

The newly-promoted hosts will be eager to secure their first points of the campaign after opening with a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Trabzonspor.

Match preview

Kocaelispor can take pride in their resilient showing against title contenders Trabzonspor on matchday one, holding their own for large spells.

However, the newcomers were undone by the only shot on target they faced — a Paul Onuachu strike just four minutes into the second half, despite Selcuk Inan’s side producing 12 attempts, with two on target.

After sealing promotion with three games to spare last term, the Gulf will aim to turn Kocaeli Stadium into a fortress, building their survival hopes on strong home form.

This will be their first top-flight meeting with Samsunspor since 2003, and their first Super Lig home game in 16 years – their most recent encounters came in the second division in 2021-22, where both sides triumphed as hosts, a result Kocaelispor would gladly replicate here.

Samsunspor narrowly avoided relegation in 2023-24 but stunned many last season by finishing third — their highest league placing in nearly four decades — and booking a place in Europe.

Thomas Reis’s men have started in similar fashion, defeating newcomers Genclerbirligi 2-1 at home on the opening day to maintain the winning feeling as a foundation for the new season.

Marius Mouandilmadji converted a first-half penalty before Carlo Holse doubled the lead, and while they conceded late, the Red Lightning claimed all three points with relative comfort.

Boasting the league’s third-best away record last season, Samsunspor will fancy their chances against another newly-promoted side in their first road test of the campaign.

With a Europa League playoff clash against Panathinaikos or Shakhtar Donetsk looming, they will aim to secure victory here while conserving energy.

Kocaelispor Turkish Super Lig form:

Kocaelispor form (all competitions):

Samsunspor Turkish Super Lig form:

Samsunspor form (all competitions):

Team News

Kocaelispor’s summer loan signing Mateusz Wieteska faces a lengthy spell out after suffering a cruciate ligament injury on his debut, ruling him out until 2026.

Another summer transfer arrival, Bruno Petkovic, is set to continue leading the line in search of his first goal.

For Samsunspor, left-back Logi Tomasson was the only new signing to start in their opening-day win and is expected to retain his place.

Reis is likely to stick with the tried-and-tested core that delivered last week’s victory, with Mouandilmadji leading the attack.

Kocaelispor possible starting lineup:

Jovanovic; Dijksteel, Haidara, Appindangoye, Oguz; Boende, Show, Yalcin, Gedik; Mendes, Petkovic, Caglayan

Samsunspor possible starting lineup:

Kocuk; Tomasson, Satka, Drongelen, Yavru; Holse, Yuksel, Ntcham; Dimata, Mouandilmadji, Kilinc

We say: Kocaelispor 1-2 Samsunspor

Kocaelispor will have great home support for this clash, but their lack of experience at this level remains a concern, especially against a Samsunspor side, who by contrast, enter the match with confidence following their strong opening win and impressive away history last term.

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