Preview: Trabzonspor vs. Kasimpasa

Sports Mole previews Monday’s Turkish Super Lig clash between Trabzonspor and Kasimpasa, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Trabzonspor and Kasimpasa will battle at Papara Park on Monday night in a clash between two sides moving in different directions on the Turkish Super Lig table.

The visitors, once flying high, aim to halt their alarming slide down the table, while the hosts are looking to maintain their place in top four.

Match preview
© Reuters

Trabzonspor slumped to a 1-0 defeat against Caykur Rizespor at the Caykur Didi Stadyumu on Thursday, following their humiliating 5-1 loss to Galatasaray last weekend.

The Black Sea Storm, who enjoyed a pleasing first half to the season, are now winless in their last three league games, with a 1-1 draw against Antalyaspor kicking off the run.

Despite their poor form, they remain in third place with 37 points after 22 games, having won 11 matches while suffering seven defeats.

However, the battle for a European spot is intensifying, as Abdullah Avci’s men are just one point ahead of fourth-placed Besiktas and two points ahead of fifth-placed Rizespor.

Back at home, where they have picked up 19 points from a possible 30, the Black Sea Storm will hope to return to winning ways against an opponent they have beaten six times in their last 10 meetings, with two draws and two defeats.

Kasimpasa’s hopes of European qualification suffered a blow as they lost 3-2 against Pendikspor in a late-drama thriller.

Sami Ugurlu’s men twice took the lead in the first half, first through an own goal from Joher Rassoul and then via a Gokhan Gul strike. However, Pendikspor levelled the proceedings on both occasions through Umut Nayir and a penalty from Mame Thiam.

Just as the game seemed destined for a draw, Thuram snatched the winner for the Istanbul-based side in the 90th minute, leaving Kasimpasa fans heartbroken.

After a promising first half of the season, the Apaches looked like European contenders. However, they have slumped dramatically, suffering successive league defeats to Ankaragucu (3-1) and İstanbul Basaksehir (3-0), and a disappointing 1-0 loss against second-tier Bandirmaspor in the Turkish Cup fifth round on January 16.

A 3-0 win over Hatayspor temporarily halted the rot, but Tuesday’s defeat to Pendikspor means they have managed only two wins in their last eight Super Lig matches.

This decline has seen them plummet to eighth in the standings with 29 points after 22 matches, seven points adrift of fourth-placed Besiktas and seven points above the relegation zone.

Back on the road, where they have lost their last two matches, the Apaches will be hoping to pick up a positive result against an opponent also struggling for form.

Trabzonspor Turkish Super Lig form:

Trabzonspor form (all competitions):

Kasimpasa Turkish Super Lig form:

Kasimpasa form (all competitions):

Team News
© Reuters

Trabzonspor will be without Trezeguet, Nicolas Pepe and Paul Onuachu, who are all away on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Mislav Orsic and Filip Benkovic are also sidelined with injuries.

In the absence of top scorer Onuachu, Enis Destan is likely to continue spearheading the attack, hoping to add to his six goals this season.

Meanwhile, Kasimpasa will also have to manage without centre-back Kenneth Omeruo, who is away with the Nigerian national team at AFCON.

Turkish midfielder Erdem Cetinkaya is currently recovering from a thigh problem, while Samuel Bastien has been ruled out since October due to a severe injury.

Dries Saddiki has missed Kasimpasa’s last eight matches since sustaining a muscle injury in December, while Iron Gomis is serving a one-match suspension for accumulated yellow cards.

Trabzonspor possible starting lineup:
Cakir; Turkmen, Baniya, Benkovic, Elmali; Mendy, Ozdemir; Fountas, Bardhi, Visca; Destan

Kasimpasa possible starting lineup:
Gianniotis; Winck, Ciftpinar, Ozcan, Ouannes; Guel, Kara; Fall, Hajradinovic, Caglayan; Da Costa

We say: Trabzonspor 2-1 Kasimpasa
Trabzonspor are missing several key places and face a tough test on Monday, but they still have the quality to come out on top against the Apaches and we back them to scrape through and take all three points.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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