Konyaspor are set to host Fenerbahce, with the visitors desperate to keep their fading Turkish Super Lig title hopes alive heading into the season’s final day. The Yellow Canaries trail leaders Galatasaray by four points with only two matches remaining. Konyaspor, meanwhile, are aiming to cap an impressive late-season resurgence with a top-half finish and a Turkish Cup final still to come.
Konyaspor’s Resurgence Under Palut
Since Ilhan Palut’s return to the dugout, Konyaspor have transformed their season. The Anatolian Eagle have climbed away from danger and re-established themselves as one of the form teams in the division.
Konyaspor have lost just one of their last 11 matches in all competitions. They have recorded eight victories and two draws during that run. That sole defeat arrived in their latest league outing — a narrow 3-2 away at Caykur Rizespor.
However, Konyaspor responded in dramatic fashion in midweek, edging Besiktas 1-0 in the Turkish Cup semi-finals thanks to Enis Bardhi’s stoppage-time penalty. This secured their first appearance in the final since lifting the trophy in 2016-17.
That result further highlighted the resilience Palut has restored to the side, especially considering Konyaspor had also eliminated Fenerbahce from the same competition in similarly dramatic fashion in the previous round. With survival already secured and European qualification through the league no longer realistic, the hosts can play with freedom here, though finishing in the top half remains a realistic target.
Fenerbahce’s Fading Title Hopes
Fenerbahce remain mathematically alive in the title race, but their hopes are hanging by a thread after a turbulent few weeks.
A crushing 3-0 defeat to Galatasaray on matchday 31 proved to be the final straw for Domenico Tedesco, who was dismissed shortly afterwards. Assistant Zeki Murat Gole is in temporary charge for the remainder of the campaign.
The Yellow Canaries did respond positively under their interim boss last time out, beating Istanbul Basaksehir 3-1 courtesy of a hat trick from Anderson Talisca. However, they still require Galatasaray to slip up if they are to carry the title race into the final weekend.
Recent Encounters and Team News
Fenerbahce’s recent record against Konyaspor offers encouragement. The Istanbul giants have won five of the last six league meetings between the sides, including a dominant 4-0 success earlier this season.
Still, Konyaspor’s resurgence under Palut — combined with the emotional boost from their cup heroics — means this could prove far trickier than the table suggests.
Konyaspor will be without Josip Calusic, Guilherme Sitya and Alassane Ndao, all of whom remain suspended for disciplinary reasons.
Konyaspor’s resurgence under Palut means this could prove far trickier than the table suggests for Fenerbahce.