Football Preview, London (2026)

01/02/2026

Preview: Torino Football Club vs U.S. Lecce

With one league win between them since the turn of the year, Serie A strugglers Torino and Lecce will scrap for points in Sunday's early kickoff.
Before welcoming his old club to Turin, a desperate streak of four top-flight defeats has left Toro boss Marco Baroni clinging onto his job.
Last week marked a low point in Torino's unravelling campaign, as a 6-0 capitulation to Como left them facing the prospect of an unexpected relegation fight.
The Granata have lost their last four Serie A matches, conceding an average of three goals per game; now in freefall, they sit just six points clear of the drop zone.
A modest tally of 23 points is their worst at this stage since 2021, when they ultimately finished 17th, so head coach Baroni is under pressure to turn things around.
Ahead of next week's Coppa Italia quarter-final against mighty Inter Milan, Toro must head back to Turin, where they will face a frustrated fanbase.
Having lost more than half of their home games, Baroni's boys cannot afford to lose again: only five points separate them from 17th-placed Lecce, and several other clubs are gaining ground.
However, this week's visitors have won both of the last two league meetings, including November's reverse fixture.
Lecce's plight is even worse than Torino's, as the Salentini are winless in seven Serie A matches and have failed to score in the last three.
While they picked up a valuable point from last week's home draw with Lazio - which ended a streak of four straight defeats - Eusebio Di Francesco's team are deep in danger.
Hampered by an acute lack of firepower, the Giallorossi have failed to find the net in four of their last five away games, and their last success on the road came back in early November.
Having scored just six away goals all season, Lecce can try to improve that dismal record on Sunday, when they face Serie A's most leaky defence.
As 15 of their 18 points have been taken from teams inside the bottom half of the standings, the southern club will hope to bring something back from a long trek north to Turin.
Torino's attacking options could be limited, as Cyril Ngonge is set to leave and Giovanni Simeone is still struggling with a thigh problem.
As a result, Duvan Zapata and Alieu Njie will fight for the right to partner Che Adams, who scored against Lecce earlier this season.
Baroni is also missing midfield pair Ivan Ilic and Gvidas Gineitis, while Zakaria Aboukhlal, Adam Masina and Ardian Ismajli are major doubts.
Though Cagliari's Matteo Prati is due to replace the departing Kristjan Asllani, he is unlikely to feature this weekend, but Lecce new boys Walid Cheddira, Omri Gandelman and Sadik Fofana are all in contention.
Cheddira recently arrived as cover for teenage striker Francesco Camarda, who could miss three months after undergoing shoulder surgery, and he will vie with Nikola Stulic to lead the Salentini's attack.
Aside from Camarda, midfielder Medon Berisha is the visitors' other confirmed absentee, with Kialonda Gaspar returning from suspension. However, several players - most notably, Mohamed Kaba - are set to exit before the winter transfer window slides shut.
Serie A's worst attack (Lecce, 13 goals scored) will visit the league's leakiest defence (Torino, 40 goals conceded), and both clubs are in awful form.
So, it could be a tense contest decided by a few moments of magic or madness, with Toro's greater potency swinging the result in their favour.

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01/02/2026

Preview: Excelsior Rotterdam vs AFC Ajax

Dutch supremos Ajax travel to Excelsior in the Eredivisie on Sunday looking to keep pace with second-placed Feyenoord, while their newly promoted hosts seek to stave off the potential of a relegation scrap.
Any title aspirations have long since dissipated for the Amsterdammers, with table-toppers PSV Eindhoven 16 points better off, but a shot at Champions League football again next term is still within reach.
Excelsior have drawn their last three games on the spin, playing out a goalless stalemate against FC Twente last time out, in a game that saw both the woodwork and goalkeeper Stijn van Gassel come to the Kralingers rescue on multiple occasions.
The Rotterdam minnows sit 13th in the Dutch top flight, and while they have lost 50% of their league games this term, four of their six wins have come at Stadion Woudestein, and they will be hoping to leverage home advantage here.
Ruben den Uil’s side have netted the fewest goals in the division this term, having scored just 20, with all of their victories sealed by one-goal margins.
Sunday’s hosts will take encouragement from the reverse fixture, though, registering a historic 2-1 triumph at the Johan Cruyff Arena back in November, with Noah Naujoks’s heroic brace proving the difference.
Ajax’s dismal continental campaign concluded on Wednesday, with interim head coach Fred Grim’s side succumbing to Olympiacos in a 2-1 defeat.
De Godenzonen are sitting third in the Eredivisie, just two points off bitter rivals Feyenoord, as they seek improve on an underwhelming season so far.
While they have lost just once on their travels in the league this term, slow starts have meant they have been held to five draws, coming from behind in every one of those games.
Sunday’s visitors are on a seven-game unbeaten run in the league, with their last defeat coming at the hands of Excelsior – a side Ajax had only ever lost to twice before in their history.
Excelsior remain without Stefan Mitrovic, who has now missed six consecutive matches due to illness and will need to be assessed closer to kickoff.
New January signing Emil Hansson starred against Telstar and was rewarded with another outing versus AZ Alkmaar, but after being named among the substitutes against Twente, the winger will be keen to force his way back into the starting XI.
Meanwhile, Ajax are set to be without Wout Weghorst and Steven Berghuis through injury, while Takehiro Tomiyasu is still working his way back to full sharpness following his winter move, restricting Grim’s choices at both ends of the field.
Bo Itakura also remains a doubt as he continues his recovery from a back problem, leaving top scorer Mika Godts, with eight goals and seven assists, primed to shoulder the attacking responsibility once more.
Despite their European campaign going out with a whimper in midweek, Ajax return to domestic football in impressive form, and that looks set to continue here. Excelsior's lack of goalscoring prowess and leaky defence is likely to be exploited by Grim's side.

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01/02/2026

Preview: CD Tondela vs Sport Lisboa e Benfica

Still basking in the euphoria of a successful continental outing in midweek, Benfica resume Primeira Liga action this weekend with a trip to struggling Tondela for matchday 20.
The Eagles snatched a place in the Champions League playoffs thanks to a last-gasp 4-2 victory over Real Madrid, coming just three days after the Gold and Green suffered a 3-0 defeat on their trip to Famalicao.
“What had been a tightly packed January run of seven matches – punctuated by exits in both the Taca da Liga and Taca de Portugal – ended in one of the most unimaginable ways for legendary manager Jose Mourinho against his former club.
Believing a 3–2 victory would suffice, Mourinho’s ill-judged late substitutions ultimately bore no consequence, as goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin surged forward to meet a last-gasp Fredrik Aursnes free kick, sealing a dramatic win over the depleted Spanish visitors.
That result proved enough for Benfica to secure passage to the Champions League knockout playoffs, where they will face Madrid again, but for now the focus turns to this weekend’s Primeira Liga trip to Tondela as the Eagles look to maintain their perfect Primeira Liga run in the new year.
Mourinho and Co. have won all three such outings in 2026, with last weekend’s 4-0 thrashing of Estrela Amadora also extending their unbeaten streak in the top flight to 34 matches (W25, D9), dating back to their defeat to Casa Pia on matchday 19 last season.
However, that remarkable invincibility has done little to aid their title charge this term, as Benfica sit third in the Primeira Liga table, three points behind Sporting Lisbon and a whopping 10 adrift of leaders Porto.
The Eagles’s struggle to keep pace with the top two has stemmed largely from an inability to turn stalemates into victories, reflected in six draws from their 19 league fixtures (W13), though the Lisbon giants can approach this weekend with confidence after winning seven of their nine away league matches this season (D2).
That makes this encounter particularly daunting for Tondela, who have lost seven of their nine home league games (W1, D1) and eight of 10 across all competitions, with their poor form at Estadio Joao Cardoso mirroring a difficult campaign overall.
The Gold and Green have suffered 13 defeats from 19 top-flight matches this season (W3, D3), including six losses in eight since Cristiano Bacci took charge on November 13, despite the Italian winning his first match at the helm.
Since recording his second victory on matchday 16 against Arouca, Bacci has overseen three consecutive losses - all without scoring - including last weekend’s setback in Vila Nova, which leaves Tondela second from bottom and five points adrift of safety.
At serious risk of an immediate return to the second tier, the newly promoted side will hope for a result here, though history is firmly against them, having lost 15 of their previous 16 meetings with Benfica (D1).
Including 3-0 defeats in both the opening fixture and a cup meeting earlier this season, CDT have now failed to score in seven of the last nine encounters with the Eagles, a worrying trend for a side that currently rank as the division’s weakest attack, with just 12 league goals this term.
Winger Ivan Cavaleiro has been absent from Tondela’s matchday squad in each of the last three outings and could miss out again, while Rony Lopes is also at risk of a fifth consecutive absence.
On a more positive note, Bacci will have Bryan Medina back available following suspension, which could see Joao Afonso return to the bench.
Benfica welcome January signing Sidny Lopes Cabral back into contention after he was ineligible for continental action in midweek, and the 23-year-old will enter this encounter full of confidence following his debut goal against his former club last weekend.
Also unavailable in midweek for the same reason, Rafa Silva, who made his first appearance in red off the bench against Estrela, will be pushing for his maiden start in the league.
Vangelis Pavlidis continued his prolific form with a brace last weekend to take his Primeira Liga tally to 19 goals, leaving the Greek striker as the competition’s current top scorer.
On the injury front, Alexander Bah (knee), Samuel Soares (muscle), Dodi Lukebakio (ankle), Henrique Araujo (muscle) and Richard Rios are all expected to remain sidelined.
Benfica are clear favourites to take maximum points this weekend, buoyed by momentum, head-to-head dominance and an impressive away league record, and a comfortable victory appears likely against hosts struggling at both ends.
In addition to their blunt attack, Tondela have also been far from secure defensively, conceding 33 goals, leaving the door open for a straightforward success for the visitors.

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01/02/2026

Preview: Sporting CP vs Clube Desportivo Nacional [www.cdnacional.pt]

Second-placed Sporting Lisbon once again have the opportunity to reduce their deficit to the Primeira Liga summit, at least temporarily, when they welcome Nacional to Estadio Jose Alvalade on Sunday.
Entering matchday 20, the Lions are seven points adrift of leaders Porto, who travel to face Casa Pia on Monday, while the visitors from Madeira are five points clear of the relegation playoff spot following last weekend’s emphatic victory.
Playing before their biggest title contenders of the campaign has become a routine for Sporting in recent weeks, but that scheduling has not worked in their favour, as the almost flawless Porto have responded perfectly on each of those four matchdays.
In fact, Rui Borges’s men dropped points during that sequence following a draw at Gil Vicente on matchday 17, a result which saw them fall further behind the league leaders with a seven-point deficit.
Despite fighting through the wringer to secure a 2-1 victory at Arouca last weekend, when brace-hero Luis Suarez struck a last-gasp winner, Porto’s emphatic triumph over Gil reduced that result to little more than a footnote in the Lions’s impressive return of 15 wins from 19 league matches (D3, L1).
Nevertheless, the defending champions remain second to none going forward, boasting a league-high 52 goals – 10 more than any other side in the division – and that attacking excellence could again be on full display on Sunday given their dominance in this fixture.
Including a 4-1 victory in the opening meeting of the campaign, the Lions have beaten Nacional in each of their last seven encounters, scoring at least twice in six of those matches, a record that further boosts confidence for a side riding high after an impressive continental outing in midweek.
Sporting secured direct qualification to the Champions League last 16 following Wednesday’s dramatic 3-2 victory at Athletic Bilbao, meaning the Lisbon giants have now won eight of their last 10 matches across all competitions (D1, L1), including each of the most recent four.
Nacional also arrive on the back of a morale-boosting performance, having ended a four-match winless run (D2, L2) – stretching back to their final fixture of 2025 – with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Rio Ave at Estadio da Madeira last weekend.
January signing Gabriel Veron opened the scoring in the 34th minute with his first goal in white and black colours, before second-half strikes from Jesus Ramirez, Leo Santos and Witi sealed the Alvinegros’s biggest top-flight win in around 12 years.
Tiago Margarido will hope that result does not prove another false dawn, having previously seen his side struggle to build momentum after victories, with that inconsistency reflected in a return of just five wins from 19 Primeira Liga matches this season (D5, L9).
Despite their stop-start campaign, the Madeira outfit have shown promise in attack, scoring 26 goals – with only Estoril Praia (37) netting more among teams outside the top four – but that threat has not been matched at the other end, with 28 conceded.
Away from home, Nacional have been particularly poor, having failed to win any of their last six league matches on the road (D3, L3) and seven across all competitions, a sequence that does little to inspire confidence in a side without a victory in their last 18 visits to Jose Alvalade, with 15 of those ending in defeat.
Sporting’s injury list has eased considerably in recent weeks, with several key players returning, including Eduardo Quaresma, who came off the bench in midweek.
Fit-again Daniel Braganca made his first start since recovering from a knee injury earlier this month but may not feature from the outset, particularly with new signing Luis Guilherme expected to return to the fold after being ineligible for continental action.
Goncalo Inacio limped off during the victory over Bilbao and is likely to miss this encounter, while Matheus Reis, who replaced him in that match, will also be absent after receiving a red card in the previous league outing at Arouca.
Zeno Debast missed the midweek trip to Spain and is doubtful for Sunday, while Fotis Ioannidis, Nuno Santos, along with teenage sensations Geovany Quenda and Salvador Blopa, remain sidelined through injury.
As for Nacional, defensive duo Ivanildo Fernandes and Ulisses will continue their lengthy spells on the sidelines, alongside midfielder Filipe Soares, who has been in the club’s infirmary since November.
Right-back Joao Aurelio is a doubt after missing the previous outing, while the availability of left-back Lenny Vallier is also uncertain following consecutive absences.
Sporting’s gap to the Primeira Liga summit has largely stemmed from their struggles in high-profile encounters, with all dropped points coming against teams currently in the top five, so a comfortable victory is expected for the Lions against their 11th-placed visitors.
An explosive home record further strengthens that case, with the hosts having won each of their last 10 matches at Jose Avalade across all competitions, seven of those victories coming with clean sheets and by margins of at least three goals.

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01/02/2026

Preview: Gil Vicente Futebol Clube vs Futebol Clube de Famalicão

Two sides in contention for European football square off in round 20 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga as Gil Vicente play host to Famalicao at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos on Sunday.

Speared by just one point in the top-four race, the Gilistas head into the weekend looking to bounce back from a humbling defeat against Porto, while the visitors will be out to secure a third league win on the bounce for the first time since last April.

Another lacklustre display saw Gil Vicente drop out of the top four on Monday as they fell to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of title-chasing Porto when the two sides squared off at the Estadio do Dragao.

In a game where Martin Fernandez received his marching orders, Porto simply ran riot in front of their home supporters, with Samu Aghehowa, Martim Fernandes and William Gomes all finding the back of the net to maintain their seven-point lead at the top of the league standings.

For Gil Vicente, this followed a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Nacional at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos on January 17, a result which saw their run of seven consecutive games without a win come to an end.

While performance levels have taken a slight dip, it is worth noting that Cesar Peixoto’s men have lost just two of their last 12 Primeira Liga matches — while picking up four wins and six draws — a run which has seen them remain within touching distance of the European qualifying places.

However, next up for Gil Vicente is the challenge of an opposing side, whom they have failed to get the better of in their most recent five meetings, losing three and claiming two draws since a 1-0 victory in February 2023.

Following weeks of mediocre results, Famalicao appear to have rediscovered themselves and flipped the script, with the Vila Nova picking up two wins from their last two matches to return to the mix for European qualification.

This weekend’s visitors turned in a dominant team display last Saturday, when Mathias De Amorim, Gil Dias and Pedro Santos all hit the target to make light work of Tondela in a 3-0 victory at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao.

Prior to that, Famalicao snapped their run of four consecutive defeats across all competitions with a 1-0 victory over Santa Clara on January 18 courtesy of a 75th-minute strike from Brazilian defender Sorriso.

Hugo Oliveira's men have now have won eight of their 19 Primeira Liga matches so far while losing six and claiming five draws to collect 29 points and sit seventh in the standings, two points and two places behind this weekend’s hosts, and four points off fourth-placed Braga in the Conference League qualifying spot.

Famalicao will be backing themselves to keep the juggernaut rolling this weekend, as they journey to the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos, where they are unbeaten in eight of their most recent nine visits, picking up six wins and two draws since August 2015.

Gil Vicente will take to the pitch without the services of 22-year-old midfielder Fernandez, who is currently suspended after receiving a straight red card one minute after coming off the bench against Porto last weekend.

On the injury front, Argentine midfielder Facundo Caseres missed the aforementioned game and is a major doubt for this weekend’s tie while Jonathan Muto is set to sit out his third consecutive game.

As for Famalicao, Spanish striker Oscar Aranda continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines through a cruciate ligament injury and the 23-year-old is out of contention for Sunday’s tie.

He is joined on the Vila Nova’s injury table by 30-year-old midfielder Rochinha, who has also been out of action since picking up a severe injury back in October.

With just two points separating Gil Vicente and Famalicao in the race for a top-four finish, we expect both sides to take the game to each other at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos.

While the Gilistas have struggled for consistency, they are unbeaten in seven of their last eight home games, picking up five wins and two draws since late August, and we predict they will do just enough to secure all three points.

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01/02/2026

Preview: نادي الاتحاد السعودي vs https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=135574659796950&_rdr

Al-Ittihad will clash with basement team Al-Najma in a Saudi Pro League fixture at the King Abdullah Sports City on Sunday.

The current champions of Saudi Arabia are sixth in the standings, while the visitors are rock bottom of the table.

After Al-Ittihad won their second league title in three seasons last term, fans of the team would have thought that the title defence would be an easy ride, but their performance in the 2025-26 season has been underwhelming.

The current champions have won only nine of their 18 league fixtures, drawing four and losing five, leaving them in sixth place, 15 points adrift of leaders Al-Hilal.

At the start of the current campaign, the hosts won three games in a row, but a five-match winless streak (D2, L3) followed.

After that period, Sergio Conceicao managed to galvanise his team to go on a six-game unbeaten run (W5, D1), but they have already lost some ground in their bid to defend the Pro League title.

Now sixth in the standings, and 12 points behind Al-Ahli, who occupy the final AFC Champions League Elite spot, winning the title in two consecutive seasons may be tricky, but there is still hope for the People’s Club to make it to the continent.

Playing at home, the results have been mixed for Conceicao’s team, with a record of five wins and four losses in front of their fans, but Al-Najma are not expected to cause an upset on Sunday.

Indeed, the visitors' sojourn in the Saudi Arabian top division has been a miserable ride since gaining promotion last season.

After 18 league fixtures, Mario Silva’s team are yet to record their first win of the season, managing five stalemates and 13 losses.

Central to their present circumstance is their inability to score enough goals and their leaky defence, which has seen them concede a league-high 37 goals, while they notched a miserly 18 across 18 matches.

Currently bottom of the table, the Star of Unaizah are seven points from safety, and a run of unlikely victories could take them out of the dreaded relegation zone.

Predrag Rajkovic has been the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper for Al-Ittihad, and he is expected to keep his spot for Sunday’s clash.

Right ahead of the Serbian, Hamed Al-Shanqiti, Danilo Pereira, Hassan Kadesh and Mario Mitaj should form the defensive cover.

Up front, Moussa Diaby, Saleh Al-Shehri and Roger Fernandes are expected to form the trio leading the attack.

For Al-Najma, Mohammed Al-Kunaydiri is sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury, so this encounter will come too soon for him.

Meanwhile, Nasser Al-Haleel has recovered from an injury which plagued him for some time, and he should be in the manager’s plans for this weekend.

Hisham Al Dubais led the attack in their most recent game, and he is expected to keep his place up front.

Al-Ittihad are not having a great season themselves, but they are more than capable of inflicting another defeat on the visiting side. Given the gulf in quality and Al-Najma’s struggles, we reckon the home side will claim a 2-0 win.

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01/02/2026

Preview: Galatasaray vs Kayserispor

Galatasaray will look to at least temporarily extend their lead at the top of the Turkish Super Lig when they welcome relegation-threatened Kayserispor to Rams Park on Sunday evening.

Cimbom currently hold a three-point advantage over second-placed Fenerbahce, who are not in action until Monday against Kocaelispor, giving the hosts a chance to increase the points gap in the title race.

Galatasaray returned to winning ways in the league last weekend with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Fatih Karagumruk, capitalising on Fenerbahce’s draw with Goztepe to stretch their lead at the summit from one point to three.

That result offered some relief, but Okan Buruk’s side once again showed their inconsistency in midweek, falling to a 2-0 defeat away at Manchester City in the Champions League, and it was the fourth time since the turn of the year that they have failed to win having played seven matches, highlighting a slight dip in momentum.

With a Champions League play-off tie against Juventus looming in February, Buruk is likely to prioritise domestic stability for now, especially with a favourable run of league fixtures, and a home meeting with a struggling Kayserispor side presents an ideal opportunity to build confidence and rhythm.

Galatasaray boast a strong recent record in this fixture, going unbeaten in their last six meetings with the visitors (5W, 1D), while they have won the last four in succession and have not conceded in the last two, including a dominant 4-0 victory in the reverse fixture earlier this season.

Although signs of fatigue have crept in, Cimbom know that sustaining their title push will require a run similar to their blistering start to the campaign, when they won their opening seven league matches.

Kayserispor, however, are desperate for points of their own, but anything other than defeat would represent a significant result for the visitors, who have endured a difficult season and a bleak start to the new year.

The Anatolian Stars have lost both of their league matches in 2026 without scoring, going down 1-0 to Besiktas before suffering a heavy 3-0 home defeat to Istanbul Basaksehir, and those results have extended their winless league run to five matches (3D, 2L).

Currently sitting in the relegation zone and just one point from safety, Kayserispor are still waiting for new manager Radomir Dalovic to spark a revival – appointed in October after title success with HNK Rijeka, the Montenegrin has so far been unable to reverse their slide.

A major issue has been Kayserispor’s tendency to settle for draws, with nine league stalemates – the second-highest in the division – while defensive frailties remain evident, having conceded a joint-league-high 37 goals.

Galatasaray will be without Arda Unyay, who is sidelined with a thigh injury, while Baris Yilmaz is suspended due to accumulated yellow cards.

Victor Osimhen marked his return to Super Lig action with a goal last time out and is expected to lead the line once again, and Leroy Sane, the league’s leading creator of big chances this season (10), will provide the creative thrust.

The hosts have also strengthened in January, bringing in winger Noa Lang on loan from Napoli and attacking midfielder Yaser Asprilla from Girona.

Kayserispor travel without Yigit Cetlik, who is recovering from a knee injury, while Majid Hosseini and Gideon Jung also remain unavailable.

In addition, Abdulsamet Burak continues to serve a 12-month suspension for betting violations and remains unavailable.

The visitors have been busy in the winter transfer window, adding defensive reinforcements and creativity with the signings of Jadel Katongo from Manchester City, Semih Guler from Gaziantep and Gorkem Saglam from Hatayspor, while Denis Makarov, Burak Kapacak and Sam Mather have also joined the club.

Galatasaray’s superior quality, home advantage and strong recent record in this fixture make them clear favourites against a Kayserispor side with defensive issues and a lack of cutting edge in attack, which are likely to be exposed.

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01/02/2026

Preview: Gençlerbirliği Spor Kulübü vs Gaziantep Futbol Kulübü

Genclerbirligi look to build another sustained run of form starting with Sunday’s Turkish Super Lig matchday 20 clash against Gaziantep at Eryaman Stadium.

The Youth suffered their first defeat in nine games (W6, D2) following last weekend’s 2–1 setback at Antalyaspor, while a 1–1 draw with Konyaspor saw the Falcons extend their own unbeaten run to five across league and friendly matches.

The odds were slightly in favour of Genclerbirligi last weekend following their cup victory at Antalyaspor less than two weeks earlier, and it appeared to be deja vu when the Youth took an early lead through Sekou Koita.

However, that joy proved short-lived as Dario Saric restored parity 13 minutes later before Metin Diyadin’s men conceded a Sander van de Streek winner in the 63rd minute, meaning they have now gone two league games without a victory, having also drawn 1–1 with Samsunspor.

Despite this, supporters of the Youth will take encouragement from their rise up the table, having climbed from the bottom two in December to 11th in the Super Lig standings with 19 points (W5, D4, L10), four clear of the relegation zone.

Looking to put further daylight between themselves and the drop, Genclerbirligi will be optimistic of taking maximum points this weekend, particularly given their improved form at Eryaman, where they have won three of their last four league matches (D1) – a sharp contrast to just one victory from their opening five home games of the campaign (D1, L3).

However, recent history offers little inspiration for the hosts, who have won in only one of the last five meetings between the sides (D1, L3) and remain without a victory in the last three, including a 1–1 draw in their most recent home encounter with Gaziantep.

Meanwhile, Sunday’s trip gives Gaziantep the chance to record three consecutive victories over Genclerbirligi for the first time, following their success in 2021 and another 2–1 triumph in their previous meeting this season.

That said, current form casts doubt over their ability to do so, as the Falcons have failed to secure a league victory in each of their last six top-flight matches (D3, L3), spanning from late November.

Burak Yilmaz’s side were unable to build on their impressive draw at Galatasaray, having settled for another 1–1 stalemate at home against Konyaspor last weekend, with the result leaving them eighth in the standings on 25 points, 11 adrift of the top four but still 10 clear of the relegation zone.

While Gaziantep will be eager to reignite their European push with victory here, their form on the road offers limited encouragement, given the Falcons are winless in four competitive away matches (D2, L2), although just two defeats in nine league trips this season (W3, D4) suggest they are capable of leaving Ankara with a result.

Genclerbirligi will once again be without Abdullah Sahindere, Moussa Kyabou and Emirhan Unal, all of whom are sidelined with knee injuries.

Peter Etebo remains in recovery from a muscle issue, while Goktan Gurpuz could be unavailable for a second consecutive outing and Henry Onyekuru is also doubtful, having missed back-to-back matches.

As for Gaziantep, long-term absentees Salem M’Bakata and Ali Ablak continue their recoveries from knee problems, while Kacper Kozlowski and Myenty Abena could miss a third straight game through injury.

Badou Ndiaye is nearing a return following a spell on the sidelines, while Ogun Ozcicek will play no part this weekend as he serves a suspension for an accumulation of bookings.

Despite last weekend’s defeat, there is no denying Genclerbirligi’s recent improvement, and a return to familiar surroundings should offer reassurance.

Gaziantep may still be struggling to convert performances into victories, but their resilience has been evident in recent weeks, so a balanced contest appears likely, with both sides cancelling each other out in a score draw.

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