- Samsunspor have won 2, drawn 1 and lost 2 of their last 5 games.
- Goztepe AS Izmir have won 4 and drawn 1 of their last 5.
Samsunspor and Goztepe to provide a tight game
Samsunspor have taken a massive step forward under Thorsten Fink, who has instilled a high-tempo, front-foot style of play on the team since taking over in the middle of February. In the main, Samsunspor have played with the ball, looking to win it back high up the field and then slice through the half-spaces. They will face a different problem on Monday when they welcome a Goztepe side who look to soak up pressure and hit on the break.
Samsunspor are the slight home favorites at 2.12, with Goztepe coming in at 3.35 and the draw also 3.35. We think the draw is the most likely result, but Samsunspor are the side to be on if you fancy a winner. This Samsunspor vs Goztepe AS Izmir prediction suggests a chess match between a control side and a containment side, with Samsunspor looking to dictate and Goztepe looking to soak up pressure and hit on the counter attack.
In the head-to-head record, these sides have won 2, each drawn 1 of their 5 previous meetings, so there is no clear advantage for either in the match-up. However, Goztepe are without a win in their last 2 against Samsunspor and will need to be at their best to come away with a result here.
Samsunspor's form has been solid but not consistent
Samsunspor's last 3 games have seen them beat AEK Athens 2-1 away, KVC Westerlo 2-1 away and then lose 3-0 to Kasimpasa SK away, so their form has been mixed. Across all competitions, Samsunspor have won 6, drawn 1 and lost 3 of their last 10, so there is momentum behind Fink's side, but they are not invincible.
Goztepe AS Izmir have had an exceptional run of form across the last few weeks, with a 2-0 win away to FC Zorya Luhansk, a 1-1 home draw with NK Rudes Zagreb and a 2-1 home win against Trabzonspor. Stoilov's side have been built on organisation and defensive discipline since he took over in November 2023, and they are a compact, pragmatic set up who do their best work when they can sit in a mid-to-low block and choke the central areas.
Across all competitions, Goztepe have won 7, drawn 2 and lost just 1 of their last 10, so they have much more momentum behind them than Samsunspor going into this game. Our Samsunspor vs Goztepe AS Izmir betting tips point to Under 2.5 goals at 1.7 and Both Teams to Score Split at 1.85 each way, as it should be a tight, tactical chess match.
Samsunspor's superiority at home should see them through
Samsunspor have been a fortress at home, winning 3 from 3 and conceding an average of 0.67 goals per match. They score an average of 3.00 goals per home game and concede 0.67, so they should have the quality to eventually break through against a deep Goztepe side.
Goztepe have won 3 of their 5 on the road across all competitions, so they can be dangerous on the break and from set pieces. However, we feel that the hosts are the more likely winner here, given their superiority at Samsun Yeni 19 Mayis Stadyumu. This Samsunspor vs Goztepe AS Izmir preview also points to a match decided by fine margins.
For our final call, we lean toward the home side to edge it.
