Rizespor v Fenerbahce Preview

Admin (Mon-Pari-Sportif.com)  - Back to domestic football, with this Turksih SuperLig encounter opposing troubled 3rd-bottom Caykur Rizespor to championship favourites and current league runners-up Fenerbahce.

Zico’s Canaries have the chance to top the Turkish domestic table as early as tonight, and therefore put pressure on direct opponents, arch-rivals and current leaders Galatasaray, who have a point-point cushion on the defending champions with 48 units.

On paper, not a lot brings together the two sides who lock horns tonight at the Rize’s Atatürk Stadium. The visitors are undefeated since November 27th (and that was against Inter Milan!), having managed to earn 10 wins and 3 draws in their last 13 domestic league/cup and CL games, while Rizespor’s last league victory was recorded in December last year (23rd). Three wins in the Turksih cup have not brought back the smile on the local fans, as their side slowly but surely slips down the table, and aims for a real fight against relegation for the remainder of the 2007/08 campaign.

Rizespor coach Samet Aybaba took the blame at the start of the season, then Bosnian Safet Susic had his chance and was also dismissed by the club. Now, Erdogan Arıca is in charge but might not have much of a chance to end the current season, if this run of disappointing results indeed goes on.

Looking at both sides’ stats, 22 goals scored v 42 goals conceded for Rizespor, and 44 v 21 for Fener, and as Kezman is currently on fire (Alex, Deivid and Roberto Carlos are not bad either), I’m gonna go for a Fenerbahce win, with the favourites set to look for a confidence-boosting performance, ahead of their CL clash against Sevilla next week.

Verdict: Rizespor will fight hard to avoid any more lost points, but should find the task ahead a bit too tough tonight. AH -1.0 on Fener @ 1.925.

Rizespor v Fenerbahce Preview