Konyaspor host Istanbul Başakşehir on 11 October 2026 in Matchday 7 of the Turkish Super Lig, the last fixture before the international break. Konyaspor sit 15th with four points from six matches and a goal difference of minus four, while Başakşehir are 12th on seven points and minus one. The dynamic is fairly clear: Konyaspor want to defend deep and nick something at home, while Başakşehir still haven't won away in the league and badly need to change that. There isn't much data on İlhan Palut versus Nuri Şahin directly but Konyaspor have been a tough home draw for Başakşehir in recent seasons and the head to head record backs that up.
Konyaspor have collected just one win from their last five league matches, though their recent upturn matters more than the headline figure: a 0-0 at Kasımpaşa followed by a 1-0 over Trabzonspor suggests they've become harder to break down, especially at home. Başakşehir have fared no better over five games, with a 4-0 home win over Gençlerbirliği interrupting a poor run but doing nothing to fix their away record, which still reads zero wins from two attempts this season.
Konyaspor are without Enis Destan (knee) and Mücahit İbrahimoğlu (muscle), with Marko Jevtovic also a doubt and those absences thin the forward and midfield options considerably, whereas Başakşehir are relatively intact with Edin Visca the only doubt.
Konyaspor set up pragmatically at home, defending in a narrow mid block before looking to break quickly once they win the ball, with left back Arthur Masuaku their primary outlet in wide areas. Without Destan and İbrahimoğlu, Jackson Muleka will lead the line alone while Deniz Türüç, Konyaspor's primary ball progressor in midfield, is asked to do more of the creative work. Jevtovic's injury doubt makes midfield control harder still, so expect Konyaspor to sit deep and look for counters or set pieces rather than sustained pressure.
Başakşehir's attack is built around Eldor Shomurodov in the box, with Skov Olsen and Olivier Kemen, who screens the defence and recycles possession from deep, providing the structure around him. Visca's potential absence removes their most direct wide option, which may push Şahin to move Skov Olsen higher and look to the full backs for width in his place. Masuaku's forward runs will probe Başakşehir's midfield screen directly, while Muleka's hold up play will test the visitors' centre backs every time Konyaspor can feed him. If Başakşehir establish control through Kemen, his distribution could give Shomurodov the half second he needs in behind the defensive line, though if they can't manage that they'll be grinding against a side that has shown it can keep clean sheets.
Başakşehir have won three of the last five meetings, though Konyaspor have won their last two at home in that run. The most recent results are Başakşehir's 2-0 win on 27 February 2026 and Konyaspor's 2-1 home win on 28 September 2025.
Set pieces and transitions are Konyaspor's most realistic route to goal without Destan and İbrahimoğlu and Türüç and Masuaku will need to deliver consistently from dead balls. Başakşehir's defending at set pieces matters just as much, given their away form hasn't produced the clear chances their possession would suggest and neither side wants to carry injuries into the two-week international break that follows.
We're going with a 1-2 Başakşehir win. Konyaspor's organisation and recent defensive solidity point toward a low scoring game but without Destan and İbrahimoğlu there is far less pace to threaten in transition and Başakşehir have a full strength attack available while Konyaspor are missing two of their three most dangerous forward players. Shomurodov should eventually find space behind a defence carrying extra load. Konyaspor may well take the lead through a set piece or transition (they're capable of that) but Kemen's control in midfield and the direct running of Shomurodov and Skov Olsen should be enough to turn it around. A narrow away win and finally their first league victory on the road this season.
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?.
