Preview: Hatayspor vs. Caykur Rizespor - prediction, team news, lineups

Caykur Rizespor volition look to deepen Hatayspor's struggles erstwhile they sojourn Mersin Arena for a Turkish Super Lig circular 19 clash connected Saturday.

Both sides travel into this fixture connected winless streaks, but the visitors stay favourites against a location squad inactive reeling from the departure of Riza Calimbay successful December and yet to name a caller manager.

Match preview

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Hatayspor's interim brag Yilmaz Bal took complaint for their archetypal crippled of 2025 but faced an uphill conflict against Fenerbahce, 1 of the league's strongest teams, and contempt the odds, the 2-1 decision was a commendable effort from the Star of the South.

This play has been tumultuous for the Star of the South, who person already parted ways with 2 managers—Ozhan Pulat successful September and Calimbay successful December, but with the squad languishing successful 18th place, these decisions bespeak the ongoing conflict to flight the relegation zone.

Hatayspor's sole triumph successful 17 league matches came against Gaziantep successful aboriginal November – since then, a six-game winless streak, capped by the nonaccomplishment to Fenerbahce, has near them 10 points adrift of safety.

While endurance is inactive mathematically possible, their existent signifier suggests otherwise, particularly aft hardly avoiding relegation past season.

Historically, Hatayspor person fared good successful this fixture erstwhile hosting, remaining unbeaten successful six specified matches crossed divisions – however, their caller 2-1 location nonaccomplishment to bottom-placed Adana Demirspor paints a bleak representation and raises concerns that their bully location grounds successful this matchup could crumble connected Saturday.

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Rizespor, meanwhile, are besides navigating a unsmooth spot – the Black Sea Sparrowhawk are winless successful their past 4 league matches, managing 2 draws and 2 losses.

The caller twelvemonth has not been benignant to Ilhan Palut's side, who began 2025 with a 1-1 gully against Besiktas successful the league past Friday, followed by a disappointing 1-0 decision to second-tier Fatih Karagumruk successful the Turkish Cup connected Tuesday.

Rizespor's run has been marked by inconsistency – aft managing conscionable 1 triumph successful their archetypal 7 league games, they surged with 5 victories successful their adjacent six, helping them emergence from their aboriginal play dip.

However, their existent slump threatens to undo that progress, arsenic they present hazard losing their five-point cushion supra the relegation zone, having already dropped to the bottommost 10.

Hatayspor Turkish Super Lig form:

Hatayspor signifier (all competitions):

Caykur Rizespor Turkish Super Lig form:

Caykur Rizespor signifier (all competitions):

Team News

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Hatayspor look a mounting wounded crisis, with Jonathan Okoronkwo remaining sidelined with a ft injury, portion Cemali Sertel, Rigoberto Rivas, Carlos Strandberg and Chandrel Massanga are besides unavailable.

However, determination is immoderate alleviation for the hosts, with Francis Calvo, Gorkem Saglam and Joelson Fernandes returning from suspension to bolster the squad.

For Rizespor, Martin Minchev is the lone confirmed absentee, with the guardant sidelined owed to an ankle wounded until adjacent month.

Despite his caller scoring struggles, Ali Sowe is expected to pb the enactment again arsenic the team's centre-forward.

Hatayspor imaginable starting lineup:
Kardesler; Alici, Buz, Kilama, Corecki; Diack, Saglam; Bamgboye, Pedro, Fernandes; Aboubakar

We say: Hatayspor 1-1 Caykur Rizespor

Both Hatayspor and Rizespor participate this clash struggling for form, making a tightly contested matter likely.

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