Gaziantep FK aims to climb out of the relegation zone in the Turkish Super Lig as they face Caykur Rizespor at Kalyon Stadyumu on Monday. While Gaziantep is showing signs of improvement, Rizespor seeks to return to winning ways after back-to-back losses.
Match Preview
Gaziantep FK made a challenging start to the season, losing their first five consecutive matches, which placed them at the bottom of the league.
However, they’ve recently shown resilience by winning three of their last four games, which included a crucial 2-0 victory against Istanbulspor and another win over Samsunspor.
Despite their improved form, Gaziantep faced a setback with a 2-0 loss to Besiktas last weekend. Their main concern has been their defense, having conceded 17 goals this season, the third-worst in the league.
Caykur Rizespor, on the other hand, made a strong start to the season after gaining promotion to the Super Lig.
They have recorded four wins, two draws, and four losses in their 10 league matches.
However, they’ve recently struggled with back-to-back losses against Kayserispor and Galatasaray, affecting their performance.
While Rizespor has shown potential, their attacking output is currently the lowest among top-half teams with only ten goals. They aim to improve this and end their winless streak on the road.
Team News
Gaziantep’s Furkan Soyalp is suspended for this match due to a red card in the previous game, and Marko Jevtovic could replace him in midfield.
Injuries continue to affect Albian Ajeti and Ulas Khacef, who are expected to be sidelined.
For Caykur Rizespor, Oscar Pinchi and Azubuike Okechukwu are unavailable due to ankle injuries.
Several other players, including Farouk Miya, Oumar Diouf, Okechukwu Azubuike, and Efe Tecimer, have not featured this season and remain ineligible for selection.
Predicted Starting Lineups:
Gaziantep:
- Nita;
- Eskihellac, Kizildag, N’Koulou, Djilobodji, Morais;
- Maxim, Gradel, Bikel, Riascos;
- Dragus
Caykur Rizespor:
- Akkan;
- Korkmaz, Mocsi, Topcu, Pehlivan;
- Pala, Shelvey, Sauer, Olawoyin, Zeqiri;
- Minchev
Prediction: Gaziantep 2-1 Caykur Rizespor
Gaziantep has shown positive signs of improvement recently, while Rizespor seeks to bounce back from consecutive losses. We predict a closely contested match with Gaziantep edging out a 2-1 victory at home.