Hatayspor will travel to Trabzonspor who are out of form in the Super Lig. Midweek saw both teams compete in the Turkish Cup last 16 and go to 120 minutes.
Preview (Trabzonspor vs. Hatayspor)
Trabzonspor defeated Genclerbirligi in extra time in Ankara. It secured a nerve-wracking but vital, morale-boosting victory. The fact that the 2022 Turkish champions needed extra time and an equalizer in the 96th minute against a lower-league team still worries them. Eren Elmali’s last-ditch goal forced extra time. Trezeguet’s victory in the extra frame ended Abdullah Avci’s team’s skid of four straight defeats. All those losses occurred in the Super Lig. Their chances of qualifying for Europe are now seriously jeopardized. They have fallen out of the top three, conceding 11 goals in that period as a result of two appalling home losses to Galatasaray (1-5) and Kasimpasa (2-3).
The fact that Besiktas is also lacking consistency is good for Trabzonspor. The difference between the top two and the third is currently 24 points. Trabzonspor had won six and drew two in an eight-game run before these disappointing results. They losing four in a row has come as something of a surprise. Trabzonspor will be wary of Kasimpasa’s strong form. The hosts enter this match outside of the European spots after a good 3-1 victory against Adana Demirspor.
Even though they lost the shootout after missing three of their five penalties, they can still feel good about going four games without a loss in 90 minutes. Hatayspor also enters the match on the heels of back-to-back league victories over Fatih Karagumruk and Adana Demirspor, a crucial run of results following a 10-game losing drought. Despite moving up to 12th place with a result, Volkan Demirel’s team is still only four points above the drop zone. Since their promotion, Hatayspor has also found it difficult to travel to Trabzon; they have lost twice and are currently without a win in three trips, despite being the team in far better form.
Team News
Paul Onuachu and Nicolas Pepe will not be playing for Trabzonspor as they get ready for the Africa Cup of Nations championship match. Thomas Meunier made his debut against Genclerbirligi following a late transfer from Borussia Dortmund during the winter transfer window. He also provided the assist for the team’s pivotal late equalizer. Meunier was brought in when Jens Stryger Larsen left, but he might also need to step in to cover for Tasos Bakasetas, who has now returned to his native Greece and was frequently a dependable supplier of goals.
Omer Beyaz, a midfielder recuperating from appendicitis, is the sole Hatayspor player sidelined going into this match. Against Karagumruk last weekend, the visitors made their debuts with new additions Dogunkan Sinik and Abdulkadir Parmak, demonstrating their hectic transfer window activity.
Trabzonspor 1-2 Hatayspor
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