Preview: Fatih Karagumruk vs Fenerbahce – prediction, team news, lineups

Second-placed Fenerbahce may briefly minimize the hole to the Turkish Super Lig summit after they journey to face basement aspect Fatih Karagumruk in one of many opening fixtures of matchday 25 on Friday.

The Yellow Canaries sit 4 factors behind leaders Galatasaray, who host Istanbul Basaksehir a day later, whereas the Black Reds are eight factors adrift of security with 9 matches left to play.

Match preview

Having performed second fiddle to 2-time defending champions Galatasaray within the final two Super Lig campaigns, Fenerbahce discovered themselves in the same state of affairs this time period, regardless of being the one aspect within the division but to endure a defeat.

In a title cost that has been riddled with expensive stalemates, the Yellow Canaries not too long ago failed to choose up most factors on a weekend when the league leaders misplaced at Konyaspor, whereas one other draw in opposition to Antalyaspor of their subsequent prime-flight outing widened the deficit to the summit.

However, Domenico Tedesco‘s males had been third time fortunate final weekend – not with out late drama as soon as once more – having produced a spirited comeback from a objective all the way down to safe a 3-2 victory over Samsunspor, with Nene Dorgeles netting an 89th-minute equalizer earlier than Sidiki Cherif struck a stoppage-time winner.

Fenerbahce have now gone 5 matches unbeaten throughout all competitions since their first-leg defeat within the Europa League playoff tie in opposition to Nottingham Forest; the run features a 2-1 victory within the return fixture on the City Ground – which finally proved inadequate to keep away from elimination – in addition to a 4-0 win at Gaziantep to progress to the Turkish Cup quarter-finals.

That sequence means the Yellow Canaries have scored at the very least two targets in every of their final 4 outings, though they’ve additionally conceded a number of occasions of their two league matches throughout that spell, a problem Tedesco might be eager to deal with forward of Friday’s journey.

However, current historical past might provide encouragement for Fenerbahce, who’ve prevailed in every of the final 5 aggressive conferences with this weekend’s hosts regardless of conceding in all of them, together with a 2-1 victory on this season’s reverse fixture.

A report of eight wins in 13 league video games (D5) on the highway ought to be sufficient to supply an additional enhance for the Yellow Canaries, who boast one of the best return of any touring aspect within the division.

Meanwhile, solely Kasimpasa (eight) have picked up fewer factors on their very own turf than Karagumruk (9) within the Super Lig marketing campaign, providing little in the best way of optimism for Friday’s match.

Since returning to the highest flight this season, the Black Reds have struggled, with uncommon victories interrupted by lengthy winless runs, and have misplaced 17 of their 25 league video games (W3, D5), essentially the most within the division.

Currently with out victory of their final 4 Super Lig matches (D2, L2), Aleksandar Stanojevic‘s males performed out a 1-1 draw at Gaziantep final weekend, with ahead Serginho netting a second-half equalizer simply 4 minutes after coming off the bench.

The end result noticed the Black Reds fail to construct on their home cup victory in opposition to decrease-division aspect Fethiyespor, which stands as Karagumruk’s solely success of their final 5 video games throughout all competitions, whereas a 1-0 overcome Antalyaspor on February 7 stays their solely win within the final 13 league outings (D4, L8).

Fatih Karagumruk Turkish Super Lig kind:

Fatih Karagumruk kind (all competitions):

Fenerbahce Turkish Super Lig kind:

Fenerbahce kind (all competitions):

Team News

© Imago / ZUMA Press Wire

Karagumruk could possibly be with out defending Davide Biraschiwho was compelled off final day trip on account of a hamstring concern, whereas ahead Joao Camacho will proceed his restoration from a knee harm that has saved him out since November.

Meanwhile, Turkish centre-again Anil Cinar is again in competition after serving a suspension final day trip, and Serginho can be pushing for a return to the beginning XI following his impactful show from the bench final weekend.

As for Fenerbahce, first-alternative goalkeeper Ederson will play no half on Friday as he serves a one-match ban for an accumulation of bookings, that means Mert Gunok is predicted to be between the sticks.

The guests may also stay with out defensive midfielder Edson Alvarezwho has been sidelined with an ankle concern since early February, whereas full-again Nelson Semedo just isn’t anticipated to return earlier than April as he recovers from a knee-associated harm.

Meanwhile, ahead Anderson Talisca and heart-again Caglar Soyuncu each stay out for a pair extra weeks on account of muscle issues.

Fatih Karagumruk doable beginning lineup:

Grbic; Esgaio, Kurucuk, Lichnovsky, Mladenovic; Kranevitter, Elmaz; Green, Ozcan, Larsson; Kalayci

Fenerbahce doable beginning lineup:

Gunok; Muldur, Demir, Oosterwolde, Mercan; Guendouzi, Kante; Musaba, Asensio, Akturkoglu; Sheriff

We say: Fatih Karagumruk 1-3 Fenerbahce

Signs of resilience are starting to emerge for Karagumruk, who’ve gone again-to-again matches with out defeat, though these outcomes got here in opposition to decrease-division opposition and an out-of-kind Gaziantep aspect.

However, dealing with Fenerbahce presents a totally totally different degree of problem, and we anticipate the guests to say all three factors to pile strain on league leaders Galatasaray, though targets at each ends stay possible given the Yellow Canaries’ defensive frailties.

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