Preview: Fenerbahce vs Samsunspor – prediction, team news, lineups

Fenerbahce need to regain momentum as they battle to remain inside touching distance within the Turkish Super Lig title race, and internet hosting a faltering Samsunspor on Sunday will provide some optimism on this quest.

The Yellow Canaries have fallen 4 factors behind league leaders Galatasaray with 10 matches left to play, and with the pacesetters dealing with Besiktas in a significant derby this weekend, the hosts will look to capitalize on any potential slip-up.

Match preview

Fenerbahce might really feel annoyed with their latest outcomes because the hole to Galatasaray has widened regardless of alternatives to shut it – when the league leaders misplaced to Konyaspor not too long ago, the Yellow Canaries had been unable to take benefit.

That similar weekend they conceded deep into stoppage time to attract 1-1 with Kasimpasa, they usually adopted that with one other irritating outing in opposition to Antalyaspor – trailing 2-0 in that match, Fenerbahce needed to rally late to salvage a 2-2 draw, dropping extra helpful factors within the title race.

Those two attracts additionally got here round their Europa League exit by the hands of Nottingham Forest, growing the stress on the Istanbul giants to ship success domestically.

The Yellow Canaries responded positively in midweek by advancing within the Turkish Cup after a commanding 4-0 win away at Gaziantep FK, and they’re going to hope to hold that momentum into Sunday’s league conflict.

Despite being the one team within the Super Lig nonetheless unbeaten after 24 matches (15 wins and 9 attracts), Fenerbahce know {that a} sequence of victories is crucial if they’re to catch Galatasaray throughout the remaining stretch of the season.

However, latest conferences with Samsunspor have been troublesome to separate, with the final 4 league encounters between the perimeters ending in attracts, though encouragingly for the hosts, they did safe a convincing 2-0 victory over Samsunspor within the Turkish Cup again in January.

Ironically, the Samsin facet arrive in Istanbul in an analogous run of type, having additionally drawn their final two league matches as a part of a 4-recreation winless sequence within the Super Lig.

Thorsten Fink‘s facet have struggled in entrance of aim throughout that interval, failing to attain in both of their final two league outings – within the goalless draw with backside facet Fatih Karagumruk they did not register a shot on track, whereas their stalemate with Gaziantep noticed them produce three efforts on track however nonetheless come away with no aim.

Interestingly, the Red Lightning have seemed much more harmful in cup competitions, as in between these two league attracts, they scored six targets throughout two cup matches, first thrashing KF Shkendija 4-0 within the second leg of their Conference League knockout playoff earlier than beating Antalyaspor 2-0 within the Turkish Cup on Thursday.

However, the final two league conferences between Samsunspor and Fenerbahce have completed goalless, a outcome that will probably fulfill the guests greater than the hosts on this context.

Fenerbahce Turkish Super Lig type:

Fenerbahce type (all competitions):

Samsunspor Turkish Super Lig type:

Samsunspor type (all competitions):

Team News

© Imago / IMAGO / Middle East Images

Fenerbahce will stay with out Edson Alvarez, who continues to recuperate from an ankle damage, whereas Caglar Soyuncu can also be sidelined with a muscle downside.

Anderson Talisca is unavailable as a consequence of a hamstring concern, and Nelson Semedo is a doubt after sustaining an damage within the cup win over Gaziantep.

There was higher information for the Yellow Canaries in that match, as goalkeeper Ederson returned from damage and is anticipated to maintain his place in aim, though Milan Skriniar stays out however may return forward of the derby in opposition to Besiktas subsequent month.

Samsunspor additionally journey with a number of damage issues. Bedirhan Cetin is sidelined with a knee downside, whereas Afonso Sousa continues to recuperate from an ankle damage.

Emre Kilinc will miss the match as a consequence of a calf tear, and Jaures Assoumou has been dominated out after struggling a grade three damage to the medial collateral ligament of his proper knee throughout the draw with Gaziantep.

Fenerbahce potential beginning lineup:

Ederson; Muldur, Demir, Oosterwolde, Mercian; Guendouzi, Kante; Nene, Asensio, Akturkoglu; Sheriff

Samsunspor potential beginning lineup:

Kocuk; Yavru, Sakta, Drongelen, Tomasson; Makoumbou, Yuksel; Cift, Holse, Mendes; Ndiaye

We say: Fenerbahce 2-1 Samsunspor

Fenerbahce ought to view this fixture as a larger alternative to return to profitable methods, particularly with Galatasaray dealing with a troublesome derby this weekend.

While Samsunspor have confirmed cussed opponents in latest conferences, their attacking struggles and damage issues may show pricey in Istanbul, because the hosts possess larger depth and high quality – and in the event that they keep the attacking rhythm proven in midweek, they need to create sufficient probabilities to interrupt the impasse and safe a helpful victory.

For information evaluation of the almost definitely outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.