The Turkish Super Lig will be back in action in the New Year when league leaders Trabzonspor will welcome Yeni Malatyaspor to the Medical Park Stadyumu.
The hosts are currently holding a seven point lead against second-placed Konyaspor, while the visistors sit 20th but only three points adfrift of safety.
Trabzonspor remain unbeaten on home soil this season, but last time out in the league on December 25, they were held to a goalless draw by Istanbul Basaksehir.
Their strike force did not manage to find the back of the net on that occasion, but the team’s eighth clean sheet of the season means that they still boast the best defensive record in the division.
Abdulla Avci’s side enter this game off the back of success in round five of the Turkish Cup, having defeated lower-league opposition Boluspor 1-0 courtesy of Bengali-Fode Koita’s effort.
At halfway the stage of the Turkish Super Lig season having played 19 games, Trabzonspor find themselves in a strong position to win their first division title since 1984.
Yeni Malatyaspor’s confidence would have been pushed further last week in the Turkish Cup, as they went down to a 3-2 defeat against second-tier outfit Bandirmaspor.
Their winless run in the league continued on December 26 when they lost 2-0 against Fernebahce, again showcasing their struggles in front of goal this season.
Yeni Malatyspor have scored just 16 goals this season, and with their poor defensive record, they will need to sharpen up in the final third if they are going to climb out of the relegation zone. They have failed to record any victory in the Super Lig since October.
Trabzonspor will be aiming to emulate their performance and result frm the opening day of the season, when they defeated Malatyaspor 5-1 in a comfortable first gameweek for Avci’s side
Trabzonspor vs Yeni Malatyaspor head to head
The two Turkish outfit have previously met on nine occasions in the Super Lig, where Trabzonspor have taken seven victories, while Yeni Malatyaspor have won two. Trabzonspor have scored 21 goals and conceded 12. Trabzonspor have won all in their last five encounters, scoring 15 goals and conceding just 4.
Trabzonspor 2-1 Yeni Malatyaspor 25/08/19
Yeni Malatyaspor 1-3 Trabzonspor 11/03/20
Trabzonspor 3-1 Yeni Malatyaspor 26/09/20
Yeni Malatyaspor 0-2 Trabzonspor 08/02/21
Yeni Malatyaspor 1-5 Trabzonspor 16/08/21
Trabzonspor latest home form
Trabzonspor have been on a good run of form at home, having not lost any league match so far. The won their last home game, defeating Boluspor 1-0 in the Turkish Cup competition. They have won four and drawn one of their last five matches, keeping clean sheet in all.
Trabzonspor 3-0 Gaziantep FK 22/11/21
Trabzonspor 2-0 Adana Demirspor 04/12/21
Trabzonspor 2-0 Hatayspor 18/12/21
Trabzonspor 0-0 Istanbul Basaksehir 25/12/21
Trabzonspor 1-0 Boluspor 28/12/21
Trabzonspor latest away form
Despite recently losing 2-1 to Antalyaspor on December 11, Trabzonspor have been on a good run of form on the road. Their last away defeat came on August 26 when they lost 3-0 to Roma in the Europa Conference League competition. They defeated Altay 2-1 in their last away match.
Goztepe 0-1 Trabzonspor 23/10/21
Besiktas 1-2 Trabzonspor 06/11/21
Fatih Karagumruk 0-2 Trabzonspor 28/11/21
Antalyaspor 2-1 Trabzonspor 11/12/21
Altay 1-2 Trabzonspor 21/12/21
Yeni Malatyspor latest home form
Malatyaspor have recently been on a relatively poor form at home, having won just one of their last five. They defeated Akhisarspor 3-1 after extra time in the Turkish Cup competition. In their last five matches, they have won one, drawn two and lost two. They lost their last to Bandirmaspor.
Yeni Malatyaspor 0-0 Galatasaray 28/11/21
Yeni Malatyaspor (E)3-1 Akhisaspor 02/12/21
Yeni Malatyaspor 2-6 Alanyaspor 12/12/21
Yeni Malatyaspor 2-2 Kayserispor 23/12/21
Yeni Malatyaspor 2-3 Bandirmaspor 30/12/21
Yeni Malatyaspor latest away form
Malatyaspor have failed to record good results on the road just like at home. They have lost in both their last two away matches, and they have not won in their last five, drawing just once. Their last away victory came on October 16 when they defeated Adana Demirspor.
Kasimpasa 2-0 Yeni Malatyaspor 30/10/21
Giresunspor 1-0 Yeni Malatyaspor 20/11/21
Konyaspor 0-0 Yeni Malatyaspor 06/12/21
Rizespor 1-0 Yeni Malatyaspor 19/12/21
Fenerbahce 2-0 Yeni Malatyaspor 26/12/21
Trabzonspor news
Trabzonspor’s striker Djaniny and new signing Jean Kouassi are not available for selection as they travel to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Serkan Asan, Anthony Nwakaeme, Anders Trondsen and Vitor Hugo are all sidelined due to injury, while Edgar Ie and Gervinho remain out for the rest of the season.
Yeni Malatyaspor news
Tunisia international Oussama Haddadi and Ghana international Benjamin Tetteh are away in the Africa Cup of Nations, while centre-back Wallace will miss out due to a muscle injury.
Tetteh’s absence will have a big impact for Malatyaspor, as he is the top goalscorer, which will put pressure on Adem Buyuk to score goals.
Prediction and Odds
Trabzonspor will be keen on getting back to winning ways in the league after a goalless draw with Istanbul Basaksehir last time out.
They head into the contest with a superior league position and form, and with Malatyaspor’s poor scoring record away from home, we back them to win the game.
Odds: 1 1.35 X 2.78 2 3.10
Probable outcomes
Trabzonspor 2-0 Yeni Malatyaspor
Trabzonspor 2-1 Yeni Malatyaspor
Trabzonspor 3-1 Yeni Malatyaspor
Trabzonspor 4-1 Yeni Malatyaspor
Trabzonspor 4-2 Yeni Malatyaspor
