Kocaelispor Aim to Extend Göztepe Hoodoo in İzmit

Kocaelispor sit seventh in the Süper Lig with 12 points from seven matches, while Göztepe are rooted to 15th on six points. That gap frames Sunday’s meeting at the Turka Arac Muayene Kocaeli Stadyumu in İzmit, where the hosts have not lost to this opponent in recent years.

A mid-table side against a team searching for traction

Kocaelispor have four wins and three defeats from seven games, with a goal difference of +2. Göztepe have one win, three draws and three defeats, and their goal difference is level at zero, with 15 goals scored and 15 conceded. For the visitors, the immediate task is simple: stop the slide before it drags them further toward the bottom of an 18-team table.

Form: a solid home base

Kocaelispor have won all three of their home matches and have not conceded at the stadium, keeping three clean sheets there. Away from home the picture is tougher, with one win and three defeats in four trips. Their last five league games have produced six goals scored and four conceded.

Göztepe’s away form has been more mixed: one win, two draws and one defeat in four matches, but they have struggled at home with two defeats and a draw from three. Over their last five, they have scored 12 and conceded 11, which points to a side that creates chances but struggles to keep them out.

Unbeaten against Göztepe

Kocaelispor’s record against this opponent is the storyline of the fixture. In the four recent meetings, they have won twice and drawn twice without a defeat. They beat Göztepe 3-2 at home in the 1. Lig in April 2024 and won 1-0 away in November 2023. Their two most recent meetings ended level: a 0-0 draw at Göztepe in November 2025 and a 1-1 draw at home in April 2026.

Team news: Kocaelispor’s injury list

Kocaelispor will be without A. Dijksteel, M. Haidara, B. Petkovic and T. Zoukrou, all sidelined through muscle or hamstring problems. A. Jovanovic (knee) and M. Maglica are doubtful. Göztepe will miss F. Bayir and I. Sabra (ankle), while L. Gugeshashvili is doubtful.

Our prediction

We expect Kocaelispor to edge this one at home, with their defensive record at the stadium and their recent head-to-head results giving them the advantage. Göztepe have shown they can score, but their away defence has leaked goals and their form has been inconsistent. A tight game is likely, and the hosts should have enough to keep their unbeaten run against the visitors alive.

Predicted score: Kocaelispor 2-1 Göztepe