Fresh from clinching the Super Lig title, a significantly rotated Galatasaray squad secured an away victory at Goztepe, with the trophy celebrations planned for the following day. Meanwhile, Besiktas managed to achieve their Europa League aspirations despite yet another dismal performance and result.
As the weekend arrived, both Samsunspor and Besiktas had the chance to secure their places in the qualifying round of the Europa League with victories.
Ultimately, both clubs achieved their objective, albeit in a surprising manner.
Istanbul Basaksehir was the closest challenger for Europa League qualification, but, in a shocking turn of events, they suffered a unexpected 3-2 defeat at home to Adana Demirspor, with all three teams playing simultaneously.
Before the weekend, Adana Demirspor was languishing at the bottom of the table with a deficit of -2 points due to severe financial troubles, had conceded 88 goals, and had managed only two wins, playing 45 minutes of the match with only 10 men.
Incredibly, Basaksehir found a way to lose, enabling Besiktas and Samsunspor to secure their positions without even needing a win, which was fortunate since neither team emerged victorious.
Samsunspor earned a commendable 2-2 draw away at Trabzonspor, a venue known for being notoriously challenging.
Securing a spot in the Europa League is quite a remarkable achievement for the club, thanks to the incredible efforts of German coach Thomas Reis. He has organised the team exceptionally well, as evidenced by goalkeeper Okan Kocuk leading the clean sheet rankings with 14 to his name.
In contrast, Besiktas faced a disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to Rizespor. While they managed to sneak into the Europa League, they have only recorded four wins in their last 12 matches across all competitions.
Two of these victories came against already relegated clubs, Adana Demirspor and Hatayspor, whilst the other two were against rivals Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.
Fan frustration over Besiktas’ performances is palpable. Although there has been a slight improvement in form under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the team continues to struggle, seemingly only showing up for the big matches against Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.
Whenever they face lower-ranked teams, the lack of effort and quality is evident, leading to difficulties in breaking down opponents who are content to defend deeply and absorb pressure.
It appears they will finish fourth in the Super Lig this season, and significant work is needed over the summer. Following a brief boost from the new manager, positive signs have been limited under Solskjaer, and the upcoming transfer window offers him a chance to refresh the squad.
In other developments, Bodrumspor were confirmed as the final team to be relegated after a 1-1 draw with Kayserispor, while rivals Alanyaspor triumphed 2-1 against Konyaspor. After gaining promotion last season, Bodrum made history as the first team from Mugla to compete in the Super Lig.
Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce are also experiencing a lacklustre end to their season, recording a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the relegated Hatayspor. They now trail champions Galatasaray by 11 points.
Galatasaray Lifts the Super Lig Trophy
On Saturday, a diminished Galatasaray team managed to secure a 2-0 victory over Goztepe, with numerous players absent as the focus shifted towards the grand celebrations planned for the title the following day.
On Sunday afternoon, reportedly over a million people filled the streets of Istanbul as players paraded on an open-top bus to celebrate their 25th Super Lig title and a remarkable third in succession.
A boat trip to Yenikapi followed, where hundreds of thousands of passionate supporters awaited their arrival to a massive stage.
However, some frustration surrounded the event, as the pre-celebration performance by invited singers appeared to take precedence over the actual title festivities.
As the rain poured and the music continued, fans began to express their impatience while waiting for the players to appear.
Eventually, the event commenced, with players and their families introduced one by one, much to the fans’ delight. Many had endured a wait of at least six hours for their moment of celebration.
Rolland Sallai emerged to the tune of “Freed From Desire,” while Gabriel Sara made a dramatic belly slide. The likes of Davinson Sanchez, Mario Lemina, Lucas Torreira, Victor Osimhen, and Mauro Icardi received the loudest cheers, particularly Icardi, who thrived in engaging the crowd and playfully taunting Fenerbahce with various chants.
There were also moving moments, as Dries Mertens walked onstage with his wife, Katrin Kerkhofs, both emotional as they bid farewell to supporters who had treated them as heroes during Mertens’ three-year tenure at the club. Along with their son, Ciro, they became a beloved family among Galatasaray fans.
Fernando Muslera, the club’s long-serving goalkeeper, also fought back tears as he waved goodbye. A true icon of the institution, Muslera joined in 2011, excelling throughout his career and winning eight Super Lig titles, and his departure will be profoundly felt.
Finally, once every player was unveiled, the real festivities began with the presentation of the Super Lig trophy on stage. Despite the inconsistent weather and lengthy performances, the evening concluded on a jubilant note for all involved.
Highlight of the Week
Champions Galatasaray put out a largely rotated squad for their away match against Goztepe but still clinched a convincing victory. A standout moment was Kaan Ayhan’s breathtaking free-kick that curled into the top corner with stunning accuracy and finesse—an impressive way to score his first goal of the season. Even Dries Mertens was left in disbelief at the strike.
Team of the Week
Flashscore
Mame Thiam, the Eyupspor striker, has made headlines as he tops the charts with his 15th goal in a standout Super Lig season, joined by Rizespor’s Samet Akaydin and Hatayspor’s Gorkem Saglam, who have also earned their places in the Team of the Week.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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