Excitement builds for Besiktas vs. Galatasaray in Turkcell Super Cup Final

The stage is set for a thrilling football showdown as Türkiye’s football giants, Besiktas and Galatasaray, clash in the Turkcell Super Cup final on Saturday.

Galatasaray, the champion of the 2023-2024 season, and Besiktas, who took the Ziraat Turkish Cup to their museums, will face each other in the Super Cup match on Saturday.

The match will be played at Ataturk Olympic Stadium and will kick off at 8:45 p.m. local time.

Besiktas, last season’s Turkish Cup champions, and Galatasaray, the reigning Super Lig champions, are both looking to begin the new season with a prestigious trophy.

Atilla Karaoglan will be the referee of the Turkcell Super Cup Final match.

Besiktas aims for strong start

Besiktas, under fire for falling short of expectations last season, is eager to turn a new page. With the appointment of Giovanni van Bronckhorst as their new manager, the Black Eagles are determined to kick off the 2024-2025 season with a bang.

Last season, the Black Eagles had a mixed Super League performance, finishing lower than expected. However, with key new signings like Gabriel Paulista, Rafa Silva, Ciro Immobile, and local talent Can Keles, the team hopes to bounce back and present their fans with a trophy.

Besiktas has won the Super Cup twice already. Their first victory was in 2006 when they defeated Galatasaray 1-0 in Frankfurt, Germany. They won their second Super Cup in 2022 by defeating Antalyaspor in a dramatic penalty shootout in Doha, Qatar.

In preparation for the new season, Besiktas played six friendly matches, winning three, drawing two, and losing one. Mustafa Erhan Hekimoglu, a 17-year-old player, stood out during training camp and pre-season matches. Besiktas’ young star Semih Kilicsoy, 18 years old, is also among the standout players. Both the management and the fans have high expectations from Kilicsoy this year.

Galatasaray seeks 8th Super Cup

Galatasaray, who finished last season with a record-breaking 102 points to win their 24th Super Lig title, is also eager to win the Super Cup.

Galatasaray has won the Super Cup seven times, making them the most successful team in the competition’s history. They won their final Super Cup in 2024.

Manager Okan Buruk has kept the majority of his championship-winning squad while adding key new players like Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi and Danish right-back Elias Jelert. Galatasaray remains a formidable opponent despite losing Tete, Tanguy Ndombele, Carlos Vinicius, and Serge Aurier.

Galatasaray played five preseason matches, winning two and losing three. The team showed promise with goals from Dries Mertens, Hakim Ziyech, and new signing Batshuayi. Mauro Icardi, a key figure in their recent success, appears fit and ready after recovering from an injury.

Historical rivalry

The match will be the 356th between Besiktas and Galatasaray. In their long-standing rivalry, Galatasaray has won 127 matches, while Besiktas has won 114, with 114 draws. Galatasaray has 496 goals to Besiktas’ 464.

This will be the third time the two clubs face off in the Super Cup. Besiktas won the first match in 2006, and Galatasaray won the 2016 final after a penalty shootout.

As the two titans prepare to face off once more, football fans anticipate a thrilling and competitive game. Both teams are determined to win the Super Cup and set the stage for a successful season.