Alanyaspor will welcome Kocaelispor in the Super Lig this Wednesday evening at the GAIN Park Stadium. The hosts are aiming to continue their move away from the relegation zone.
Meanwhile, the visitors will look to continue their fine season as they currently occupy eighth in the division with outside hopes of climbing into a position to qualify for the Conference League next season.
Alanyaspor’s Fight for Super Lig Survival
Alanyaspor currently sit 11th in the division after 26 matches, having won five, drawn 13, and lost eight, which has earned them a total of 28 points.
The hosts are currently six points above the relegation zone with eight matches left in the league campaign. A win in this fixture will go a long way in confirming their position in this division for next season.
Alanyaspor earned a point in their last Super Lig match, drawing 2-2 at Gursel Aksel Stadyumu against Goztepe, extending their winless streak to four league games.
On home soil this season, Simsekler have secured 16 points from a possible 39 on offer in 13 Super Lig contests, a record they would want to improve, starting with this clash.
Kocaelispor’s European Ambitions
Kocaelispor enter this fixture currently sitting eighth in the league after 26 matches, as they have won nine, drawn six and lost 11 to give them 33 points.
The visitors lost last time out, with a 2-1 defeat to Konyaspor at the Turka Arac Muayene Kocaeli Stadyumu. This means they have now lost three in their last five league games.
Kocaelispor won the last Super Lig meeting between the sides, coming out on top 2-0 at Turka Arac Muayene Kocaeli Stadyumu in October as Tayfur Bingol struck first in the 62nd minute before Serdar Dursun was on target for their second.
With eight matches remaining, Kocaelispor trail fourth-placed Besiktas by 16 points for a spot in the Conference League qualifiers, knowing a win here is vital to make this a reality.
Team News and Key Players
Alanyaspor will continue to be without Yusuf Ozdemir for his involvement in a betting scandal that shocked Turkish football a few months ago.
Meanwhile, they will also cope without Maestro, who is ruled out through injury, but there are no other fitness concerns for the side.
Guven Yalcin and Florent Hadergjonaj will be key to the hosts getting a victory, with the former being the club’s top scorer with six goals, two of which have been the tone-setting first of the match, while the latter has been nearly as impressive with four goals, including one match-opener.
Kocaelispor remain without long-term absentee Mateusz Wieteska, who continues his recovery from the serious knee injury he sustained early in the season, while Aleksandar Jovanovic and Mahamadou Susoho are currently ruled out by injury.