- Goztepe are undefeated at home this Super Lig season, winning 3 of their 5 matches.
- Goztepe’s Juan is the club’s top scorer with 5 goals in 11 appearances (4 goals in the last 5 matches).
- Kocaelispor has won just 1 and lost 5 of their 6 away Super Lig matches this season (average of 0.83 goals scored and 2.00 conceded per away game).
Goztepe have strong home record to maintain
Goztepe AS Izmir have a solid record at home in the Super Lig this season, winning three and drawing two of their five matches. Stanimir Stoilov has implemented a very compact, disciplined system since he took charge at Goztepe and his team are almost impossible to break down at home.
Our Goztepe AS Izmir vs Kocaelispor prediction is informed by the fact that Goztepe sit fifth in the Super Lig table with 22 points from 12 games, so their form in the league has been good despite two defeats in their last five. They have won their last two matches, a 1-0 home win over Genclerbirligi and 2-0 victory at Kasimpasa, to get back on track.
Kocaelispor arrive in much less impressive form, with 14 points from 12 games leaving them 11th in the table. Selcuk Inan’s side have won four of their last five, however, so their momentum should give them a chance on Sunday. For the best insight, see our Goztepe AS Izmir vs Kocaelispor betting tips.
Kocaelispor have recent record over hosts
Kocaelispor have won their last two games against Goztepe, including a 3-2 home success in the 1. Lig last season, and their recent resurgence suggests they could cause some problems on Sunday.
Inan’s team have been much better since he made a couple of tactical adjustments a couple of games ago, the best example of which was the gritty 1-0 home win over champions Galatasaray. The Goztepe AS Izmir vs Kocaelispor preview is interesting considering that Kocaelispor have struggled away from home all season, however, winning just once and losing five times in the Super Lig.
Kocaelispor’s possession-based style, in which they play through the midfield and try to provide width from the full-backs, is a good antidote to Goztepe’s counter-attacking style and they will surely look to control the tempo of the game. With Tayfur Bingol having provided three of Kocaelispor’s last seven goals, they should have the attacking edge in this fixture.
Goztepe’s defensive structure should see them through
Goztepe will probably play in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation on Sunday, depending on the number of players Stoilov has available, and are very disciplined in terms of their shape when they are not in possession. This Goztepe AS Izmir vs Kocaelispor prediction recognizes how they are very selective in their pressing, but when they win the ball back they want to attack quickly down the flanks.
Stoilov’s team are the clear favorites to win at 1.73, but we feel that’s a bit short and prefer to take Kocaelispor at 5.41 for the upset. Goztepe haven’t won their last home game against Kocaelispor, who have recent momentum in their favour, so there’s some psychology to consider as well.
Backing Under 2.5 goals at 1.78 is the main selection because this game is likely to be a chess match in which Kocaelispor need to control the pace to get a result while Goztepe will want to keep it open. The hosts are a much stronger team at their own home stadium, however, and it’s difficult to see them not getting at least a draw from this game, let alone all three points, given Kocaelispor’s woeful away record. This Goztepe AS Izmir vs Kocaelispor prediction suggests the home side remain favorites.
