Rizespor vs Besiktas prediction 09.01.2024.

• Competition: Super Lig
• Date: Tuesday, 9th January 2024
• Kickoff: 17:00 UTC / 18:00 CET
• Venue: Çaykur Didi Stadyumu (Rize)

Rizespor is having an unexpectedly strong season, especially given their history of fluctuating between the first and second tiers of Turkish football. When they did participate in the Super Lig, they typically ranked in the lower half of the league. However, nearly halfway through the current season, Rizespor is now 5th with 29 points from 18 rounds, tied with Besiktas and Kayserispor, and are very close to the European Qualifiers.

Besiktas, along with Fenerbahce and Galatasaray, make up the “Big Three” in Turkey. However, it’s clear that Besiktas doesn’t have the same quality as the other two, who have heavily invested in their projects. Currently, with 29 points, they’re trailing Fenerbahce and Galatasaray by 15 points. Their realistic goal for this season should be to finish in third or fourth place, which would allow them to compete in Europe next year.

Rizespor vs Besiktas pick: Rizespor to (AH 0) win

Rizespor is performing exceptionally well, having not lost any of the last eight games in all competitions. Their impressive season can be attributed primarily to their home record, where they secured 69% of their points at the Çaykur Didi Stadium in Rize. They have only suffered one home defeat (1:0 against Galatasaray) in ten matches this season. Lately, they have been in outstanding form, winning five consecutive games and scoring 15 goals, an average of three per game.

Conversely, Besiktas are struggling, having secured just one victory in their last five Super Lig matches. Their challenges are likely to increase during the Africa Cup of Nations, as many of their crucial players are participating in the competition. However, their issues are not limited to that; there have been reports of a dismal team atmosphere leading to the suspension of four prominent players. In their next game, the absence of a majority of their defenders for different reasons will undoubtedly pose a significant challenge.

Given Besiktas’s issues with absences and the contrasting forms of the teams, coupled with Rizespor’s impressive home record, we predict that Rizespor is in a stronger position to win and prolong their winning streak at Çaykur Didi Stadium.