Goztepe SK vs Southampton predictions for this friendly pre-season game that will be played on Saturday evening which will take place at the Bornova Aziz Kocaoglu Stadium. Read on for all our free betting tips and predictions.
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Match Live Saturday, 15h July at 6:00 pm In:
Goztepe SK vs Southampton Predictions
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A Duel in the Dusk: Goztepe SK vs Southampton
Key Stats
– Southampton suffered a woeful relegation from the Premier League, ending the season 11 points adrift of safety.
– Che Adams, the predicted goalscorer, netted six times for Southampton in the last campaign.
In an upcoming pre-season friendly, Goztepe SK will welcome Southampton to the Bornova Aziz Kocaoglu Stadium on Saturday evening. The game serves as a crucial stepping stone for both teams as they gear up for their respective seasons in the second tier of football in their countries.
Tussle for Promotion: Goztepe SK’s Ambition
Goztepe SK, currently a part of the Turkish second-tier league, fell short of promotion last season when they lost in the quarter-finals of the playoffs against Bodrumspor, the eventual finalists.
Despite being close to securing an automatic promotion spot at one point, a string of four consecutive draws at the season’s end saw them finish seventh, eight points off the promotion places. However, the Turkish side has high hopes for the upcoming season and coach Ekrem Dag is optimistic about the team securing a spot in the Super Lig, from where they were relegated after the 2021-22 campaign.
A New Era: Southampton’s Relegation Battle
On the other hand, Southampton will be embarking on their first season in the Championship after more than a decade. The English side suffered a demoralising relegation from the Premier League in the last season, finishing last with an 11-point gap from the safety zone.
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The club owners, Sport Republic, have appointed Russell Martin as the new manager following the unsuccessful tenure of Ruben Selles. Southampton’s first pre-season match under Martin ended in a 2-0 defeat to Benfica, pointing towards a potentially challenging season ahead.
Shuffling Squads: Team News
Goztepe SK have made numerous additions to their squad, with loanee goalkeeper Mateusz Liz from Southampton expected to make his debut against his parent club. Alongside him, Tarkan Serbest, Taha Altikardes, Ali Dere, and Ogun Bayrak, all signed on free transfers, are set to bolster the team’s defence. Loue Bayere Junior, a new signing from Sweden’s Hammarby, may also get some playing time upfront.
Southampton, on the other hand, have been relatively quiet in the transfer market. However, Ryan Manning and Shea Charles, a recent signee from Manchester City, could feature in the friendly. Amidst transfer speculations, James Ward-Prowse and Romeo Lavia are also expected to feature in this match.
Expert Predictions
Bearing the statistics and recent form in mind, it is time to make our predictions for this encounter.
1. The Best Bet: Both Teams to Score
Goztepe SK and Southampton have both demonstrated an impressive attacking prowess. Goztepe, for example, averaged 1.1 goals per game in the last season. This demonstrates a well-rounded attacking unit that isn’t shy about pushing forward. Southampton, on the other hand, scored an average of 0.9 goals per game in their last Premier League season, which, although lower than Goztepe’s, shows an aptitude for finding the back of the net even in the face of stern opposition. Southampton also had an average of 1.4 big chances per game, indicating their capacity to craft opportunities.
However, both teams have also shown some vulnerabilities in defence. Southampton conceded an average of 1.9 goals per game in their last season, and Goztepe conceded an average of 0.9 goals per game. This combination of strong attacking and somewhat shaky defending makes it highly probable that both teams will score in the upcoming match, which is also a friendly game so we can expect both managers to make some experiments.
2. The Correct Score Prediction: 2-1 to Southampton
Given the offensive capabilities of both teams, it’s expected to be a high-scoring match. However, Southampton’s stronger player roster and the experience gained from playing in a more competitive league could give them the edge in this match.
Southampton’s experience in the Premier League, even with their relegation, will have steeled them for this kind of match, making them likely to score at least twice. On the other hand, Goztepe, despite their decent attacking stats, have generally struggled against higher-tier opposition. However, considering their average of 1.1 goals per game last season, they should still be able to get a goal.
3. The Goalscorer Prediction: Che Adams to Score
Our pick for the likely goalscorer from this match is Che Adams. The Southampton forward had an impressive performance in the last season, scoring six goals in 28 appearances. Even in a struggling team, Adams has proven his goal-scoring capability.
Adams is a player who can handle the pressure of leading the line, and he is expected to feature prominently in this match. His proficiency with both feet, evidenced by his goal tally, coupled with his experience, makes him a prime candidate to find the back of the net against a Goztepe defence that conceded an average of 0.9 goals per game last season.
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