Istanbul Basaksehir V Trabzonspor
Monday 28 October 2019 – 17:00 Kick-Off
Turkish Super Lig
Pick: Both Teams to Score
Odds: 7/10
Bookmaker: WilliamHill
Turkish Football Betting – 22Bet
Preview: Some Super Lig action in Turkey, between two of the current top four, as second in the table Trabzonspor tackle fourth-placed Istanbul Basaksehir inside the latter’s Fatih Terim Stadium. Last season’s corresponding fixture would finish 2-0 in favour of the hosts, who are unbeaten in the previous eight league meetings (W5 D3).
Basaksehir Preview – Head-to-head record makes them clear favourites?
We would need to go right back to January of 2012 for the last time Istanbul Basaksehir (4th – W4 D2 L2, GF14 GA10) were beaten on home soil in this very fixture, winning four of six such encounters since – including a 2-0 success from last season. Not even a goal would be conceded in three of the most recent four, which underlines their sheer dominance in this specific fixture in recent times.
Furthermore, this team has well and truly found its groove of late. Victory in the Europa League on Thursday, when leaving it late to secure a 1-0 scoreline at home to Austrian outfit Wolfsberger, made it three consecutive wins in all competitions – all via one goal margins – and stretched their unbeaten sequence in all competitions to six (W4 D2). Their domestic form has also undergone significant improvement.
Having begun with back-to-back losses, versus Yeni Malatyaspor (3-0) and Fenerbahce (1-2), coach Okan Buruk has overseen a six-game unbeaten sequence in the league (W4 D2). They’ve won their last three consecutively, against Rizespor (5-0), Gaziantep (1-2) and Goztepe (2-1). At home their record reads W2 D1 L1, scoring in all four of which three featured both teams among the goals – in fact, six of their last seven league fixtures, home or away, have returned both teams to score.
Trabzonspor Preview – Recent form to inspire overdue win in this fixture?
A wretched record away to their next opponents, who they have failed to register a win against in their previous eight league meetings (D3 L5), has every opportunity of being put right. That is because Trabzonspor are currently enjoying a rich vein of form, domestically at least, and will be seeking a fourth straight league win on Monday.
Three Super Lig victories in succession, versus Besiktas (4-1), Rizespor (1-2) and Gaziantep (4-1), has lifted the club from Trabzon up to second in the standings. A fourth win in a row could send them into the outright lead depending on how league leaders Alanyaspor fare earlier in the weekend. So there remains no shortage of incentive for the visiting side who have, however, only won once on their travels all season in the league (W1 D2 L1).
Furthermore, Thursday’s 2-0 home defeat to Russian side Krasnodar in the Europa League could, potentially, have knocked them out of their stride. Striker Daniel Sturridge missed that game, possibly in a bid to keep him fresh with this match in mind, and seems certain to return to the fold especially after opening the scoring in last week’s resounding win over Gaziantep. Meanwhile, all eight league games have featured both teams scoring.
Istanbul Basakehir V Trabzonspor Key Facts:
- Istanbul Basaksehir are enjoying a six-game unbeaten streak in all competitions (W4 D2). They have won their last three matches all by a one-goal margin.
- Trabzonspor have won three consecutive matches domestically, with all eight Super Lig fixtures involving them this season returning both teams to score.
- The previous three league meetings were all won by Istanbul Basaksehir, who have not lost at home in this fixture since 2012 (W4 D2).
Betting Summary
The head-to-head favours Istanbul Basaksehir considerably: it is no defeat at home to this opponent since 2012 (W4 D2 in the intervening period), while victory in this latest encounter would be their fourth straight, home or away, having won all three previous meetings. In addition, their recent form has been excellent. Victory in Thursday’s Europa League clash with Wolfsberger extended their unbeaten run to six competitive matches (W4 D2).
A fairly dismal record against their opponents needs to be addressed. It could feasibly happen here, as Trabzonspor do approach this game in strong form: although they were beaten in Europe on Thursday, in the league they have clinched three consecutive wins to put themselves in title contention. Moreover, only two teams in the Turkish top-flight have plundered more goals than their figure of 17 from just 8 games.
That we have two teams in form should mean no shortage of confidence or rhythm from either team, and that can only bode well for the prospects of an entertaining game ensuing. Goals should flow, crucially – Baseksehir have seen 6/8 in the league return both teams to score while for Trabzonspor it is a perfect 8/8.
