Alanyaspor go hope to secure another season for Turkish Super Lig when dem welcome Samsunspor to Bahcesehir School Arena for Monday afternoon. Both teams come from Turkish Cup heartbreaks, as dem lose for quarter-final stage for the week.
Alanyaspor know say a positive result fit almost confirm their top-flight status, as dem dey mid-table with healthy cushion for relegation zone. The hosts get 33 points from 30 matches, dey around 12th for standings, seven points above relegation zone, and a win here go take am to 10 points, almost secure their Super Lig status with three matches left to play.
But the hosts come into this clash on a four-match winless streak across all competitions, including a 3-0 Turkish Cup quarter-final loss to Besiktas on Thursday. Joao Pereira men don fail to score for their last two games, after also falling to a 1-0 loss to Kasimpasa for their last league outing. A notable feature of their campaign be the number of draws, with Alanyaspor sharing the spoils on 15 occasions this season, more than any other team for the division.
However, playing at home fit prove decisive, as Alanyaspor go look to take advantage of familiar surroundings, having avoid defeat for their last league matches at home, picking up a 5-0 win over Kocaelispor amid draws with Genclerbiligi and Trabzonspor. In addition, the Alanya side never lose this fixture for Super Lig, picking up two wins and three draws for five top division meetings.
Samsunspor, meanwhile, arrive for stronger league position but with their own frustrations after an inconsistent run wey don slow their push up the table. The visitors currently dey seventh with 42 points, dey comfortably above the relegation battle but still short of mounting a serious challenge for the European places. But dem come into this clash on the back of a penalty shoot-out loss to Trabzonspor for the quarter-final of the Turkish Cup during the week, though dem go hope to make am three league wins on the bounce, after winning 2-1 for their last two Super Lig games against Eyupspor and Besiktas.
Away from home, Samsunspor only end a two-match losing streak on the road with the win against Eyupspor and dem go hope to build on that to record a first-ever top-flight win for this fixture.
Alanyaspor go remain without Yusuf Ozdemir, wey dey suspended by the Turkish Football Federation, and that make am the only absentee for the team. Ianis Hagi, wey pick injury against Gaziantep, and Meschack Elia, wey don dey out, both return for the cup game and expected to feature.
Samsunspor come into this clash without their Ivory Coast forward Jaures Assoumou, wey dey sidelined with a knee injury. Defender Bedirhan Cetin also dey struggle with his knee, and the young defender expected to remain on the sidelines, while Celil Yuksel remain a doubt.
Alanyaspor possible starting lineup: Victor; Akgad, Lima, Aksoy; Hadergjonaj, Makouta, Janvier, Ruan; Hwang, Yalcin, Kaya. Samsunspor possible starting lineup: Kocuk; Yavru, Van Drongelen, Satka, Tomasson; Ntcham, Makoumbou; Kilinc, Holse, Coulibaly; Marius.
Both sides don show tendency to draw matches for recent weeks, and this encounter get all the makings of another closely fought contest. Alanyaspor motivation to secure survival fit drive dem forward, but Samsunspor organisation and resilience suggest dem go be difficult to break down, and a share of the spoils look like the most likely outcome.
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