Antalyaspor — Rizespor : Match Preview and Prediction for October 03,2025

Recent Performance and Offensive Struggles

Let’s start with the hosts. Their last game against Fenerbahçe (0-2) is a clear illustration for my prediction. Looking at the numbers, I observed a complete lack of attacking threat: only 4 shots, with just 2 on target. The expected goals (xG) metric registered a dismal 0.24 – with such figures, scoring is highly improbable for any team.

Mounting Injury Crisis

Adding to Antalyaspor’s woes is a severe personnel crisis. The team’s infirmary is overflowing, and these aren’t merely rotational players. Defenders Veysel Sarı, Bahadır Öztürk, and Hüseyin Türkmen are sidelined, along with midfielders Dario Šarić and forward Erdoğan Yeşilyurt. Such an extensive list of absentees shatters any tactical cohesion and structure, particularly impacting their ability to create chances.

Off-Field Distractions and Season Statistics

Furthermore, an unsettling atmosphere surrounds the club due to the so-called “earthworks case.” The management was compelled to issue an official statement to distance the football team from the scandal. This represents an unnecessary distraction that impedes the team’s concentration on the game. Season statistics only reinforce this bleak picture: Antalyaspor ranks last, 18th in the league, for total shots, shots from outside the box, and shots off target.

Systemic Offensive Issues

Now to the visitors. If Antalyaspor’s attacking problems are largely situational, Rizespor’s are deeply systemic. This isn’t merely my assessment; it’s backed by objective facts: the team has managed to score only 4 goals in 6 matches this season. This lamentable record places them at the very bottom of the Super Lig for offensive output.

Recent Performance and Managerial Concerns

Their recent 1-2 defeat to Kasımpaşa only served to underline their persistent difficulties. Following the match, head coach İlhan Palut candidly admitted that his team conceded “bad” goals and generally looked uninspired. Media criticism is intensifying, and a discernible lack of energy from the coach, coupled with disjointed play from the footballers, predictably culminates in a mere 5 points after 6 rounds.

Struggling to Create Chances

Rizespor’s attacking statistics unequivocally point to deep-seated problems. The team ranks last in the league for shots on target – managing a paltry 2.67 per game. They also occupy the last spot in terms of corners won. This suggests that the team not only struggles to convert opportunities but critically fails to create them in the first place. Additionally, the participation of key forward Ibrahim Olawoyin is questionable, further diminishing their already limited attacking potential.