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

Faltering Samsunspor welcome Kocaelispor to the Samsun 19 Mayis Stadyumu on Saturday as they look to arrest a worrying six-match winless run in the Turkish Super Lig.

Thomas Reis’s side are now nine points adrift of the top four, a significant drop-off from their promising start to the campaign, and they find themselves closer to mid-table, just three points away, than the European places.

Match preview

Samsunspor showed early promise last time out as Marius Mouandilmadji headed them into a first-half lead, but familiar problems soon resurfaced, as the Red Lightning conceded shortly after the hour mark – and, despite registering 18 attempts on goal, were unable to find a winner.

That inability to convert chances has been at the heart of their struggles, with Thomas Reis's men managing just one goal across their last three league matches.

Those issues stretch back to late November, a period in which the Samsun side have played 12 matches in all competitions, collecting only two wins — both coming in the Turkish Cup against Eyupspor and Aliaga — alongside four draws and six defeats.

Unless their attacking efficiency improves, that poor sequence risks being extended against Kocaelispor, a side they edged 1-0 in the reverse fixture thanks to an own goal.

Defensive frailties have also undermined Samsunspor’s progress, having failed to keep a clean sheet in 12 matches, including their last four at home across all competitions.

Kocaelispor, however, are not in a position to fully capitalise on the hosts’ difficulties, as Selcuk Inan’s side have struggled for goals themselves, scoring just 16 in the league — a tally bettered by only three teams.

They also arrive on the back of consecutive defeats in 2026, losing 1-0 to Gaziantep in the Turkish Cup before falling 2-1 at home to Trabzonspor in their most recent league outing.

Despite those setbacks, Kocaelispor’s ninth-place standing still represents a respectable return, particularly after they failed to win any of their opening seven league fixtures.

The loss to Trabzonspor was also their first in the Super Lig since October 31, offering some perspective on their overall consistency.

Saturday’s encounter may ultimately hinge on defensive discipline, with the Korfez also struggling at the back, having gone five matches in all competitions without a clean sheet.

Samsunspor Turkish Super Lig form:

Samsunspor form (all competitions):

Kocaelispor Turkish Super Lig form:

Kocaelispor form (all competitions):

Team News

Samsunspor are expected to remain without Cetin Bedirhan and Tanguy Coulibaly, who are both sidelined with knee injuries, while Afonso Sousa is ruled out due to an ankle problem.

Emre Kilinc, Carlo Holse and Rick Van Drongelen are also doubts, having missed the last couple of matches.

There is better news in attack, as Cherif Ndiaye is set to return after winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, while Olivier Ntcham made his comeback in the previous outing.

The hosts have also been active in the transfer market, adding Elayis Tavsan, goalkeeper Irfan Can Egribayat, Yalcin Kayan, Ali Diabate and Saikuba Jarju to their squad.

Kocaelispor will again be without Mateusz Wieteska, who continues his recovery from a cruciate knee injury sustained earlier in the season.

Goalkeeper Aleksandar Jovanovic is also a doubt after picking up an injury during the second half of the defeat to Trabzonspor.

Samsunspor possible starting lineup:

Kocuk; Satka, Gonul, Borevkovic, Tomasson; Makoumbu; Yavru, Yuksel, Cift, Bulbul; Marius

Kocaelispor possible starting lineup:

Degirmenci; Oguz, Dijksteel, Smolcic, Haidara; Bingol, Keita; Churlinov, Linetty, Agyei; Petkovic

We say: Samsunspor 1-1 Kocaelispor

Both sides arrive low on confidence and short on goals, which points toward a tight and cautious contest which may hinge on small moments rather than sustained dominance, with neither side doing enough to fully impose themselves.

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