Caykur Rizespor will look to continue their good form when they host Besiktas in the Super Lig. The opposition, meantime, travels in an attempt to snap out of a slump. It has seen them lose three of their last four league games.
Preview (Caykur Rizespor vs. Besiktas)
This Friday in the Tupras Stadium in Istanbul, Besiktas faced Kasimpasa and lost 3-1, which was a sad result. Nuno Da Costa’s goal put Fernando Santos’s team behind. Semih Kilicsoy pulled them even before Da Costa scored twice in the second half to seal the victory. The Black Eagles have thus fallen to sixth place in the Turkish Super Lig standings. They barely missed out on the final European slot on goal differential. Next up for them is a rival team that has not lost in the previous 15 iterations of this match.
Before Tuesday’s game, the visitors had won four of their previous five road games, establishing themselves as a formidable team when playing away from home. When Hatayspor and Rizespor met on Saturday, Rizespor came out on top 2-0, going back to winning ways right away. Dal Varesanovic gave Ilhan Palut’s team the lead in the 19th minute, and with eight minutes remaining, Ibrahim Olawoyin completed the score. The Black Sea Sparrowhawks are tied for fifth place in the league standings with 29 points from their first 18 games, exactly equal with their upcoming opponents. Tuesday’s hosts will be confident in finishing the job after winning five straight games at home.
Team News
Due to thigh injuries, Umur Meras and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are both sidelined and will not be involved for Besiktas in this match. Emrecan Uzunhan, a 22-year-old midfielder, will also be absent for the visiting team because of personal reasons. Okechukwu Azubuike and Efe Tecimer will not play for Rizespor in this match, even though the former is getting closer to playing again after a knee injury. The Bosnian Dal Varesanovic is a player to watch because he has scored five goals in his last six games for the home team.
Caykur Rizespor 1-1 Besiktas
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