Preview: Yeni Malatyaspor vs. Adana Demirspor - prediction, team news, lineups

With games running out and a 12-point deficit to make up, Yeni Malatyaspor require a great escape if they are to avoid relegation from the Super Lig.

The team that reside bottom of the table face a tricky task on Friday as they play host to an Adana Demirspor side that will be aiming to extend their current unbeaten run to six league matches.

Match preview

Yeni Malatyaspor's five-season stay in the Super Lig seems to be heading towards its conclusion, with the bottom-placed side currently 12 points adrift of safety.

Currently in the midst of a 14-game winless run in all competitions, Yeni Malatyaspor enter Friday's contest bereft of confidence.

Last weekend's result did nothing to lift the mood as they were thrashed 5-2 by Hatayspor, with a Nouha Dicko brace the only bright point of a poor performance.

Friday's fixture represents Cihat Arslan's first game as Yeni Malatyaspor manager with the new boss aiming to guide his side to just their fifth league win of the season.

The hosts can draw encouragement from the fact that one of their four league victories this season came against Adana Demirspor in the reverse fixture.

At the other end of the Super Lig table, fifth-placed Adana Demirspor remain firmly in the hunt for European qualification.

After winning 3-0 away to Gaziantep FK, Vincenzo Montella's side were held to a point in their most recent outing, as they played out a goalless draw at home to Antalyaspor.

Perhaps disappointed with the point, Adana Demirspor were comforted by the fact that the result extended their current unbeaten run to five league games.

Friday's visitors will be looking forward to an away fixture after winning their last two away league matches by a combined 6-1 scoreline.

In fact, Montella's men currently hold the second-joint best away record in the league after collecting 22 points from their 14 away matches this season.

Team News

Yeni Malatyaspor have a number of injury concerns ahead of Friday's contest, with Kenan Ozer, Mounir Chouiar, Stephen Mallan and Benjamin Tetteh all expected to miss out.

Sadik Ciftpinar is also absent with the 29-year-old serving the final game of his three-match suspension.

After opening his account for Yeni Malatyaspor last weekend, Dicko will be looking to add to his tally when he starts up front on Friday.

Meanwhile, Adana Demirspor are without the services of Tarik Camdal and Loic Remy, who are both injury absentees.

After serving a one-match suspension, Mario Balotelli returned to the starting lineup for the goalless draw against Antalyaspor and the Italy international is expected to lead the line once again on Friday.

Benjamin Stambouli dropped down to the bench against Antalyaspor, but he is likely to return to the midfield for the trip to the New Malatya Stadium.

Yeni Malatyaspor possible starting lineup:

Ozbir; Zeffane, Basdas, Campi, Haddadi; Ndong, Azubuike; Eskihellac, Cagiran, Hafez; Dicko

Adana Demirspor possible starting lineup:

Muric; Svensson, Akaydin, Sanuc, Kanak; Stambouli, Inler; Akgun, Belhanda, Vargas; Balotelli

We say: Yeni Malatyaspor 1-3 Adana Demirspor

Despite prevailing in the reverse fixture, we think that Yeni Malatyaspor will come up short when they face an Adana Demirspor side that have proven to be a dominant force on their travels this season.