Soccer Preview: Fatih Karagümrük SK vs. Alanyaspor

ISTANBUL (Interstat) — Fatih Karagümrük SK hosts Alanyaspor on Saturday in a Süper Lig matchup that carries contrasting momentum for two clubs separated by only a few points in the standings.

Kickoff is scheduled for May 16 at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium.

Alanyaspor enters the contest riding a two-match winning streak, most recently a 3-1 victory over Kayserispor on May 9. That result followed a 1-0 win at Antalyaspor on May 3, a run that has lifted the visitors to mid-table security. Before that, Alanyaspor struggled for consistency: a 3-2 loss to Samsunspor on April 27, a 1-0 defeat at Kasimpasa on April 19, and a 1-0 loss at Eskisehirspor a day earlier. A scoreless draw with Denizlispor on April 12 preceded a 1-1 tie with Trabzonspor on April 11. The team has also recorded wins against Ayvalikgucu (1-0 on April 5) and Usakspor (1-0 on March 29), with draws against Gaziantep FK (1-1 on April 4) and Altay SK (0-0 on March 25).

Fatih Karagümrük SK, meanwhile, has found recent form of its own. The home side defeated Kocaelispor 1-0 on May 9, a result that followed a 1-0 win over Gençlerbirliği SK on May 3. Those back-to-back victories snapped a rough patch that included a 0-0 draw with Besiktas on April 27, a 2-1 loss to Eyupspor on April 18, and a 3-0 defeat at Konyaspor on April 12. Earlier in the season, Fatih Karagümrük beat Rizespor 2-1 on April 5 and Fenerbahce SK 2-0 on March 13, but also suffered losses to Kayserispor (1-0 on March 19), Trabzonspor (3-1 on Feb. 27), and draws with Gaziantep FK (1-1 on March 8) and Samsunspor (0-0 on Feb. 22).

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 1-1 draw, reflecting how closely matched these sides appear. Alanyaspor’s attack has shown punch in recent weeks, scoring three against Kayserispor, while Fatih Karagümrük’s defense has tightened, allowing just one goal in its last two outings.

Neither club is threatened by relegation nor in contention for European qualification, but both are eager to finish the season on a high note. The match is the first of two meetings this season between the teams.

Fatih Karagümrük will be without injured midfielder Emre Mor, while Alanyaspor lists forward Efkan Bekiroglu as questionable with a hamstring issue.

Saturday’s referee is yet to be announced by the Turkish Football Federation.