After Besiktas won the Super Lig last season on a dramatic final day, the likes of Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe have been trying to be shrewd in the transfer market in order to mount a serious title challenge this year.
Things have started well for all three sides, and it looks like it’s probably going to be one of them lifting the Super Lig trophy at the end of the 2021/22 season.
But do not discount Trabzonspor. They’ve begun brightly and have signed well with Denmark’s Andreas Cornelius and Ivory Coast’s Gervinho now part of the squad. They’re currently fourth favourites at 5.0 with sportsbooks like bet365 that are highly rated across many markets like US, Europe and Australia – as seen in this bet365 Australia review. Looking at the odds of others to win the title, Besiktas lead the way at 3.0, with Galatasaray priced at odds of 3.25, and Fenerbahçe as third favourites at 3.5 with bet365.
One side who have lost their way already this season are Istanbul Basaksehir. They were tipped to do well this year but lost their opening two fixtures at home to Alanyaspor and away to Konyaspor. Transfer speculation hasn’t helped either, and it does look likely that Australian left-back, Aziz Behich, will move to newly-promoted Turkish side Giresunspor after being shut out completely at Istanbul and no longer considered. It’s potentially a great move for him as he can focus on regular football and staying in Graham Arnold’s Socceroos World Cup plans.
Arguably the team most under pressure out of those mentioned is Fenerbahçe. Portugal’s Vitor Pereira has returned as head coach for a second time, and he must try and get the best out of Mesut Ozil this season. If he can, his side should come very close to toppling Besiktas. Pereira is happy to be back, raring to go, and cannot wait to feel the passion from the stands this year as fans return:
“I always felt passion and ambition at Fenerbahçe,” said the 53-year-old when he was presented to the media in July. “However, more time was needed to establish a stable structure and achieve the targeted success.
“Unfortunately, I did not have as much time as I wanted. Fenerbahçe was an unfinished love for me. I have won trophies in almost every club I have been to in my career. But I could not win a trophy in Fenerbahçe. Now is the time to crown this unfinished story with championship trophies. Then this unfinished story will have a happy ending.
“During my meeting with President Ali Koç, it didn’t take long for me to realize that our perspectives were very similar. I am grateful to him for giving me this opportunity. Fenerbahçe’s vision for the future and what he told me impressed me a lot.”
Fenerbahçe last won the league title in 2014, so to bring the glory days back to this club would be an incredible achievement in his first season back. That year Galatasaray finished second and Besiktas third. It looks as though it may well come down to these three once again this season, but who will go on to triumph?
Galatasaray have the likes of Falcao, Babel, and Feghouli, Besiktas have Michy Batshuayi leading the line after signing on loan from Chelsea, and Fenerbahçe have Ozil and Enner Valencia amongst a host of top names. Fans will no doubt play a huge part this year, and with a wide-open race in Turkey, it’s going to be an incredibly exciting season.
