Match Preview: Kasımpaşa vs Konyaspor – Süper Lig (Turkey)

Kasımpaşa's Unbeaten Run Meets Konyaspor's Historical Resilience in Istanbul

Kasımpaşa return home this Friday with the wind firmly in their sails, sitting comfortably in fourth place in the Süper Lig. Their recent form, an impressive run of five league matches without defeat, has propelled them into the early European conversation. Contrast that with Konyaspor, who after a dismal streak of four consecutive losses, finally broke their duck last weekend. This fixture presents a compelling narrative: Kasımpaşa’s current momentum against Konyaspor’s historical ability to frustrate them, even when struggling.

Match Details

• Competition: Süper Lig (Turkey)
• Venue: None, Istanbul
• Kick-off: Friday, 18 September 2026 • 18:00 UK Time
• Referee: None

Current Form

Kasımpaşa’s season has started with consistent performances, reflected in their DWDDW record over the last five Süper Lig outings. They secured a narrow 2-1 victory against Gençlerbirliği last time out, demonstrating their ability to find crucial goals. Before that, an exciting 2-2 draw with high-flying Amed showed their attacking potency, while stalemates against Başakşehir (1-1) and Trabzonspor (1-1), coupled with a clean sheet 1-0 win over Çorum FK, highlight a team that can adapt its approach. They are clearly a side that understands how to manage matches and protect points, currently sitting just four points off the top of the table.

Konyaspor, however, have endured a far more turbulent start. Their recent record of LLLLW paints a picture of a team grappling for consistency. A crucial 1-0 home win against Trabzonspor in their last match offered a much-needed reprieve, ending a dismal run that saw them fall 0-1 to Erzurumspor FK, 1-2 to Kocaelispor, and a heavy 2-4 defeat at Fenerbahçe. Prior to that, Rizespor also held them scoreless in a 0-1 loss. The challenge for Konyaspor will be to build on that single victory and prove it was more than just a momentary blip against their overall downturn in form.

Team News

Kasımpaşa will definitely be without K. Corekci, a defender sidelined by an Achilles tendon injury, which will force a reshuffle in their backline. Further concerns lie in midfield and on the flanks, with A. Baldursson, H. Hajradinovic, and M. Ouanes all listed as questionable due to injury or inactivity. The potential absence of Baldursson and Hajradinovic could impact midfield creativity and control, while Ouanes' absence might reduce wide attacking options, potentially forcing players like J. Rak-Sakyi or A. Benedyczak into more central roles, or requiring depth from A. Müjde or A. Kol.

For Konyaspor, midfielder M. Ibrahimoglu is confirmed to miss the fixture due to inactivity, which could impact their ability to control the tempo in the middle of the park. Forward E. Destan is also questionable, and his potential absence would limit Konyaspor's attacking flexibility, placing more responsibility on players like Mostafa Mohamed, J. Dompé, or J. Muleka to lead the line. This could see them lean more heavily on direct play or wide channel attacks if key creative or linking players are unavailable.

Head to Head

Recent history shows Konyaspor to be a formidable opponent for Kasımpaşa, regardless of current form. Kasımpaşa has failed to secure a victory in any of their last five meetings. Two of the most recent clashes ended in 1-1 draws, both in 2026 and 2025, indicating a pattern of tight, evenly contested encounters. The 3-3 draw in early 2025 further highlights the often open nature of this fixture, with plenty of goals. Interestingly, Konyaspor also secured two wins in 2024, beating Kasımpaşa 3-2 and 2-0, with one of those victories coming at Kasımpaşa’s home. This suggests a mental edge Konyaspor might hold, despite their current struggles.

Tactical Breakdown

Kasımpaşa's strong start suggests a well-drilled unit, likely built on a foundation of defensive compactness and efficient transitions. Their ability to secure draws against Amed and Başakşehir, alongside clean sheets against Çorum FK, indicates a team capable of shifting between a mid-block and a deeper defensive shape, suffocating midfield spaces and limiting opposing build-up. With players like Elson Mendes and K. Demirbay in midfield, they possess the ability to control possession when required, but also to launch quick attacks, possibly through the wide channels to exploit space left by an advancing opponent. The question for Kasımpaşa will be whether they can break down what is likely to be a resilient Konyaspor defence, especially given Konyaspor's recent 1-0 victory which will have bolstered their confidence in a deep block strategy.

Konyaspor, fresh off a morale-boosting 1-0 win against Trabzonspor, will likely lean into a pragmatic approach designed to frustrate their in-form hosts. Expect them to deploy a compact defensive structure, possibly a deep block, to deny Kasımpaşa space in central areas and half-spaces. Their backline, featuring players like C. Awaziem and R. Baniya, will focus on limiting penetrations and dealing with set-piece delivery. Attacks will likely come through direct play, looking to find J. Dompé or Mostafa Mohamed quickly in behind, or exploiting the wide channels through Y. And

Konyaspor 1-1 Kasımpaşa (2026-03-08); Kasımpaşa 1-1 Konyaspor (2025-10-05); Konyaspor 3-3 Kasımpaşa (2025-01-19); Kasımpaşa 2-3 Konyaspor (2024-08-10); Kasımpaşa 0-2 Konyaspor (2024-04-13)