Hatayspor Antakya vs Istanbul Basaksehir Prediction & Betting Tips - Super Lig

Prediction published on 11/09/2020, 02:27  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 11/09/2020 at 02:34 in Super Lig Predictions

The final match of the first round in the Turkish Super Lig will pit the top finishers in the top two leagues in the country last season. Second tier winners Hatayspor hosts Super Lig champions Istanbul Basaksehir on Monday. It is Hatayspor’s first ever top flight game after emerging tops in the second tier, four points ahead of Erzurumspor. Hatayspor’s battling spirit is not in doubt; they came from down to draw with Galatasaray in their preseason friendly at the start of September. Towards the close of last season, they registered three straight wins after battling impressively to secure top slot. This is what they will need heading to the Monday game, as they host the top team in Turkey at the moment. A run of six unbeaten home matches towards the close of last season really helped prop Hatayspor to the top flight and they won five of the six, while conceding just one goal. Their home form, will be key if they intend to stay up and will be hoping to replicate the run that had just one loss and 12 wins in their last 15. Of the 17 home league matches last season, Hatayspor lost one and won 13. They may not play this match at the Ataturk Stadium in Hatay where they dominated in their home matches last season, but even in Gaziantep, they should be comfortable enough to face Istanbul Basaksehir. With nine new players and a new manager too after Ömer Erdogan took charge in August, Hatayspor will be hoping to settle fast in the top flight and starting on a positive against the champions will be a big statement.

Istanbul Basaksehir played their last competitive match at the start of August and lost heavily to Copenhagen in the Europa League. They should head to this game better prepared and going by their form last season, they’ll be favorites for a winning start here. The champions finished their campaign on a losing note last season but then they had already secured the title as they fell 3-2 to Kasimpasa. Starting the campaign, Basaksehir will be hoping to firm up defensively after conceding in their two preseason matches and the earlier two games, which has left them with no clean sheet in four matches. The visitors however have 10 wins and two losses in their last 15 league matches and scored two or more in six of their last seven away league matches as they wrapped up last season on a high. In 17 away league matches last season, Basaksehir failed to score in just three matches, two of them ending in losses. They have made a few interesting signings in preparation for the season, with Nacer Chadli’s arrival from Monaco the biggest while they also have Hassan Ali Kaldirim and Rafael joining their ranks. Midfielders Okechukwu Azubuike and Berkay Özcan have made their loan deals permanent and Basaksehir will be hoping their transfer activity pushes them to another fine season. Last season, they lost the first away match and the last two in the league but with eight away wins, Basaksehir were the second best away team, behind Trabzonspor.