Kayserispor v Kocaelispor: survival fight meets top-half push | OneFootball

Kayserispor host Kocaelispor in the Süper Lig on Sunday, 9 February 2026 in Kayseri, with the relegation-threatened hosts seeking vital points against ninth-placed visitors aiming to firm up their top-half standing.

These sides drew 1-1 in the reverse fixture in August. Kayserispor sit 17th with 15 points, while Kocaelispor are ninth on 24 points as they chase momentum after a mixed winter run.

Form points both ways. Kayserispor have lost their last three league games without scoring, falling to Beşiktaş, Başakşehir and Galatasaray, and have won once in their last 10 matches across all competitions. Kocaelispor drew at Samsunspor and lost to Trabzonspor and Fenerbahçe in recent league outings, and held Beşiktaş in the cup.

Team news could shape selections. For Kayserispor, Majid Hosseini and Emre Çeltik are injured, with goalkeeper Bilal Bayazit and defender Abdulsamet Burak suspended. Kocaelispor are without suspended midfielder Karol Linetty, while Mateusz Wieteska and goalkeeper Aleksandar Jovanovic are injured.

The numbers suggest contrasting routes. Kayserispor have scored 16 and conceded 41 in 20 league games, keeping two clean sheets, so German Onugha's six league goals and João Mendes' supply may be central. Kocaelispor have also scored 16 but conceded only 21, with seven clean sheets, yet have taken six points away from home with one away win, so Bruno Petković and Tayfur Bingol could be asked to make tight margins count.

A home win would lift Kayserispor to 18 points and could narrow the gap to safety. Victory for Kocaelispor would take them to 27 points and strengthen their top-half platform, with scope to edge closer to the European-chasing pack.