The head-to-head history between these sides is typically close, with both teams scoring in 75% of their last 16 encounters. Key absences could influence the game: Konyaspor will be without suspended players A. Ndao and J. Muleka, as well as injured U. Akyol, while Rizespor has no major suspensions reported.
Konyaspor will hope that Tuesdays 4-1 cup win over third-tier Musspor marks the start of a more positive month after a difficult November. The result offered a welcome lift for the Anatolian Eagles, who failed to win in any of their four league outings last month, suffering three defeats and a draw. Rizespors record in Konya is not particularly encouraging either, with just one league win in their last five visits (one draw, three defeats). Yet their recent away form offers far greater optimism, with the Black Sea Sparrowhawk unbeaten in their last five away outings in all competitions (two wins, three draws), four of which were league matches. Even so, Tuesdays emphatic 6-1 cup victory over Pendikspor came as a much-needed boost, ending a three-match winless spell (one draw, two defeats), a slump that led to the resignation of Ilhan Palut, with Recep Ucar stepping in, just weeks after departing the Konyaspor dugout.