Sports Mole previews Friday’s Turkish Super Lig clash between Alanyaspor and Antalyaspor, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Alanyaspor host Antalyaspor at Bahcesehir Okullar Arena on the final day of the 2023-24 Turkish Super Lig season.
Both sides are set to finish in the top half of the table, but they can still improve their final position with favourable results.
Match preview
Alanyaspor extended their unbeaten run to five matches after a 1-1 draw with Samsunspor at Samsun Stadium last Saturday.
Oguz Aydin scored his fourth goal in four games to put Alanya ahead early on, but Marius Mouandilmadji equalised for Samsun on the hour mark.
The home team remains in seventh place with 51 points but they can still finish sixth. However they need to win against Antalyaspor and hope Kasimpasa lose to Besiktas on Sunday.
Fatih Tekke‘s side only managed a goalless draw against Antalyaspor in the reverse fixture and have won just one of their last five league meetings against them, with that victory coming at home last season.
Antalyaspor ended a three-match losing run with a 2-1 victory over Adana Demirspor at the New Antalya Stadium last Friday.
Stiven Mendoza put the ball into his own net to give the Scorpions the lead, before Abat Aymbetov equalised for Demirspor just past the hour mark. Murt Yilmaz secured the win for Alex de Souza‘s side in the 74th minute.
Currently in 10th place with 48 points from 37 games, Antalyaspor are guaranteed a top-half finish as they hold a four-point advantage over 11th-placed Demirspor. However, they can still climb as high as ninth if they win on Friday, while Rizespor (who are two points ahead) lose against Hatayspor on Sunday.
The Antalya outfit have already surpassed their points total and final position from last season, picking up seven more points and climbing three places higher with one match remaining. However, the Scorpions have not won consecutive league games since a three-win streak in late October and early November.
Alanyaspor Turkish Super Lig form:
Antalyaspor Turkish Super Lig form:
Team News
Alanyaspor have no injury or suspensions reported heading into their final game of the season, leaving Tekke with a wealth of options.
Aydin is the man to watch for the hosts as he has been in fine form, topping their scorer’s chart with 13 goals in the league so far.
Antalyaspor will be without the services of Turkish midfielder Bunyamin Balci who is still battling with an ankle problem.
Erdogan Yesilyurt returns to the squad after serving a match ban for the red card he received in the loss to Kasimpasa.
Alanyaspor possible starting lineup:
Taskiran; Hadergjonaj, Lima, Aliti, Balkovec; Richard, Fer; Aydin, Karaca, Ozdemir; Hassan
Antalyaspor possible starting lineup:
Leite; Vural, Sari, Gerxhaliu, Yilmaz; Saric, Kaluzinskii; Larsson, Assombalonga, Safuri; Buksa
We say: Alanyaspor 1-0 Antalyaspor
Alanyaspor have lost just one of their last 11 home matches in the league, while Antalyaspor have struggled on the road. Taking this into consideration, we are tipping the home side to edge this affair in the end.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
