Galatasaray aims to fend off Fenerbahce and Mourinho

Three-time reigning champions Galatasaray claimed a record-extending 25th Super Lig title in the final months of the 2024/25 season, and they are eager to start strong on Friday, when they kick off against Gaziantep.

They have enhanced their squad significantly as they aim to build a team that can also compete in the Champions League. Following the impressive acquisition of 29-year-old former Bayern Munich and Manchester City player Leroy Sane on a free transfer, they proceeded to make the historic signing of Victor Osimhen for 75 million euros.

After a remarkable loan spell at the Turkish giants last season, where he scored 37 goals across all competitions - a record for an overseas striker - Osimhen chose to remain in Istanbul. Consequently,Galatasaray shattered the Super Lig transfer record by approximately 55 million euros to secure his permanent transfer.

They will undoubtedly be the favorites to clinch a fourth consecutive title, but Fenerbahce and Jose Mourinho will be determined to break their dominance and reclaim the trophy for the first time since 2014.

Despite speculation regarding his future, the Portuguese manager remains in Turkey following a controversial season marked by some rather immature behavior that drew significant media attention.

He will have another chance, though, and has already strengthened his squad with the loan acquisition of Jhon Duran from Al Nassr - an excellent signing to lead the attack. Additionally, they have brought in Archie Brown andNelson Semedo, along with permanently signing Milan Skriniar.

If they wish to surpass their fierce rivals, they must focus on letting their performance on the pitch do the talking this time.

Both teams still have some gaps in their rosters, so expect more activity in the transfer market in the upcoming weeks. Galatasaray urgently needs a new goalkeeper afterFernando Muslera departed from the club, while Fenerbahce lacks the attacking strength to replace Dusan Tadic and Edin Dzeko.

Don’t expect Besiktas to join them in the title race, however. After finishing fourth and a staggering 33 points behind the leaders last season, they invested heavily in AC Milan striker Tammy Abraham and Benfica’s Turkish midfielder Orkun Kokcu. Yet, their standout player over the last few seasons, Gedson Fernandes, left for Spartak Moscow, which seems like a puzzling decision.

The team's balance appears off, and a disheartening 6-2 aggregate loss toShakhtar Donetsk in Europa League qualifying could signal troubling times ahead. Pressure is already building on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

European contenders

One of Turkey’s major clubs, Trabzonspor, had a disappointing 2024/25 season, spending much of it in the lower half of the table. However, a late surge saw them rise to seventh place, restoring some pride.

Their improved performance coincided with the appointment of highly-rated manager Fatih Tekke at the beginning of March. In his 11 matches in charge, Trabzonspor ranked as the third-best team in the league, earning just four points less than Fenerbahce.

This is a team that should be positioned much higher, and they hope to carry that momentum into the new season. They also re-signedPaul Onuachu from Southampton after an impressive tenure two seasons ago. However, he will be sidelined for the next few weeks due to an injury.

Samsunspor was one of the highlights of 2024/25, finishing third under the impressive German coach Thomas Reis. If they manage to navigate their European qualification campaign successfully, they will be competing on multiple fronts, making it challenging to replicate their Super Lig success from last season.

Nevertheless, they have made several signings, and Reis has established himself as one of the top managers in the league, so anticipate another strong performance from them.

After finishing in the Europa Conference League spots last season, Istanbul Basaksehir has been active in the transfer market, signing Uzbekistan's Abbosbek Fayzullaev for a club-record €7.5 million, along with Kasimpasa striker Nuno Da Costa. The Cape Verdean forward has netted 27 league goals in his last two seasons in Turkey, proving his worth at this level.

In their inaugural season in the Super Lig, Eyupspor surprised everyone by finishing sixth and narrowly missing out on a European spot. The key figure behind this success was coach Arda Turan, but he is no longer with the club after moving to Shakhtar Donetsk. It is difficult to envision how they could possibly exceed expectations again, and they may find their second season significantly tougher.

Newly-promoted teams

Kocaelispor is returning to the Super Lig for the first time since 2009, having been crowned champions of the TFF 1. Lig. Following their promotion, they appointed former Galatasaray player and prominent figure Selcuk Inan as coach, after his unjust dismissal at Gaziantep last season - a wise choice.

Genclerbirligi also gained automatic promotion to the top division just behind Kocaelispor, making their return after four years away. Karagumruk joined them after spending just one season outside the Super Lig, defeating Bandirmasporin a promotion playoff.

Follow the new Turkish Super Lig season live with Flashscore!