Kocaelispor will look to strengthen their position in the top half of the Turkish Super Lig when they welcome Caykur Rizespor to Yildiz Entegre Kocaeli Stadyumu on Saturday.

The hosts sit seventh with 15 points from nine matches, while the visitors are 13th with 10 points and arrive in a difficult spell after suffering three consecutive league defeats, conceding nine goals across those games.

Match preview

Kocaelispor's 2-1 victory away to Alanyaspor offered a timely response after consecutive league defeats against Besiktas and Goztepe, and they have now collected five wins from nine matches, although they have also lost four times and are yet to record a draw.

The Gulf followed that league victory with a 3-0 win over lower-division side Mazidagi in the Turkish Cup on Tuesday, with Metehan Altunbas scoring twice and Dan Agyei also finding the net in a convincing performance.

Returning to league action at home, Kocaelispor will be keen to respond to their 2-1 defeat to Goztepe in their last match at the Kocaeli Stadyumu, which ended their unbeaten home start after they had won their opening three games on their own ground without conceding.

The hosts have a respectable home record against Saturday's visitors in the Super Lig, having lost just one of their seven previous home top-flight meetings with Rizespor, recording three wins and three draws, including a 1-1 stalemate last season.

However, Kocaelispor failed to win either of their meetings with Rizespor last season, losing away and drawing at home, while they have also gone six consecutive competitive encounters without a victory against the visitors, losing four of those matches.

Rizespor will hope to extend that run, but they arrive needing a significant defensive improvement to end their recent struggles.

They suffered a 3-0 defeat to Fenerbahce and a 2-1 loss to Corum before going down 4-3 at home to Trabzonspor, while only Eyupspor, with 17 goals conceded, and Samsunspor, with 15, have shipped more than Rizespor's 11 across the last five league matches.

Another concern for the visitors is their recent away form, having gone without a win in their last two league matches on the road (D1, L1) after winning their opening three away games.

Despite that downturn, Rizespor remain among the league's strongest away sides, level with Kasimpasa on 10 points in the away standings, and they will now aim to claim their first victory at this ground since 2010, when they won there in the second division.

Kocaelispor Turkish Super Lig form:

Caykur Rizespor Turkish Super Lig form:

Team News

Kocaelispor are expected to be without Bruno Petkovic, who is dealing with a hamstring injury, while Aleksandar Jovanovic returned from the injury list to feature against Mazidagi.

Tanguy Zoukrou and Massadio Haidara have also been reported as injury absentees, leaving the hosts with defensive selection decisions to make ahead of Saturday's encounter.

Selcuk Inan could recall Altunbas after his impressive performance in the cup, while Muharrem Cinan is another option at left-back.

Rizespor will be without Khusniddin Alikulov, who is sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury, while Ahmed Kutucu is yet to fully recover from a thigh problem and Can Bozdogan is reportedly carrying an injury.

Coach Recep Ucar was sent off late in the defeat to Trabzonspor, but is expected to return to the touchline for this fixture.

Gennaro Borrelli impressed against Trabzonspor with a brace and could retain his place in attack ahead of Ali Sowe.

Kocaelispor possible starting lineup:

Oztasdelen; Rivas, Ortakaya, Dijksteel, Cinan; Susoho, Show, Kutlu; Sousa, Aye, Altunbas

Caykur Rizespor possible starting lineup:

Fofana; Pala, Bakayoko, Sagnan, Ariss; Antalyali; Mebude, Olawoyin, Laci, Mihaila; Borrelli

We say: Kocaelispor 2-1 Caykur Rizespor

Kocaelispor's home advantage gives them a credible platform to claim all three points, particularly against a side that has conceded nine goals in its last three league matches, and the hosts should create enough opportunities to edge a competitive contest.

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