Kasımpaşa host Samsunspor at the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Stadium on 18 October 2026 for Matchday 8 of the Süper Lig. The home side are ninth with 10 points from seven games and a balanced goal difference, whereas the visitors sit 17th with just four points and a nine goal deficit. This one matters considerably more for Samsunspor, who arrive after five straight defeats and with Nenad Bjelica in charge for the first time. Kasımpaşa have found some stability under Emre Belözoğlu and will want to build on their home record to pull further clear of the bottom.
Kasımpaşa come in on mixed form, going L-D-W-D-D across their last five, their most recent outing a 1-3 home defeat to Galatasaray on 9 October 2026. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi's goal gave them something to show but the loss was clear enough, while Samsunspor are in far worse shape having lost 0-3 to Trabzonspor around 12 October 2026 to extend their losing run to five matches.
Emre Belözoğlu, appointed on 5 December 2025 after Shota Arveladze's departure, has steadied Kasımpaşa and neither side comes in with notable absences. Bjelica was appointed on 14 October 2026 to replace Thorsten Fink, who left after a 1W-1D-5L start, while Fatih Kaya is ruled out with a rib fracture and plays no part.
Kasımpaşa tend to set up in a 4-2-3-1, using Kerem Demirbay to control the midfield and looking to transition quickly. Adrian Benedyczak leads the line, Güven Yalçın has found some form recently and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi came off the bench to score against Galatasaray last time out.
Samsunspor under Bjelica are starting from scratch after Fink's abrupt exit, with Emre Kılınç and Logi Tomasson as the attacking options and Marius Mouandilmadji providing support behind them. Bjelica can at least pick his best side without injury concerns but the short preparation window makes a cautious defensive setup the more likely call. The central battle is essentially Demirbay versus a Samsunspor midfield trying to find its footing under new instructions. If Kasımpaşa can drag Samsunspor's wide defenders out of shape, Benedyczak and Yalçın should find pockets between the lines. Samsunspor's counter relies on Kılınç and Tomasson punishing any over commitment from the home full backs, which becomes more likely if Kasımpaşa grow desperate for a goal.
Recent meetings have been tight, with two wins apiece and a couple of draws between them and the last time these sides met at this ground Samsunspor won 1-0 on 30 January 2026.
Set pieces are likely to carry more weight than usual, with Bjelica's first game in charge almost certainly prioritising defensive solidity at dead balls over attacking ambition. Kasımpaşa have the structure and the crowd behind them but their recent difficulty converting chances is a concern (they scored just once in their last three league games). Samsunspor arrive desperate for something after five losses and the short preparation window means sitting deep and taking a point is exactly what Bjelica is most likely to go for.
0-0. Kasımpaşa have the better structure and home advantage but their conversion rate in recent weeks has been poor enough that another goalless evening looks plausible against a Samsunspor defence that has conceded nine goals in seven games. Bjelica's side have every reason to sit deep and take a point and given how little time he has had to prepare anything more ambitious, that's exactly what they're likely to try, leaving Kasımpaşa frustrated at home and giving Samsunspor their first point in six.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
