Galatasaray will lock horns with arch-rivals Besiktas at Atatürk Olympic Stadium in the Turkish Super Cup final on Saturday. Galatasaray finished as the Turkish Super Lig champions last season while Besiktas won the Turkish Cup.
The reigning Super Lig champions concluded their pre-season with a 2-0 loss against Parma in a friendly last month, failing to score for the first time in the pre-season. They won the last edition of the Super Cup after rivals Fenerbahce forfeited the match which was postponed twice and held in April this year.
The reigning Turkish Cup champions concluded their pre-season on a four-game unbeaten streak, recording three wins. They concluded the pre-season with a 2-1 win over Sakaryaspor thanks to goals from Jackson Muleka and Mustafa Erhan Hekimoğlu.
Besiktas last lifted the Turkish Super Cup in 2021, registering a 4-2 win on penalties over Antalyaspor. Galatasaray are the most successful team in the Super Cup, lifting the trophy 17 times thus far.
Galatasaray vs Besiktas Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- The two Istanbul-based sides have a long-standing rivalry and have crossed paths 355 times in all competitions, including exhibition games. The reigning Super Lig champions have the upper hand in these meetings with 127 wins. The Turkish Cup winners are not far behind with 114 wins while 114 games have ended in draws.
- Cimbom secured a league double over Besiktas last season, recording a 3-1 win on aggregate.
- The two teams have met eight times in the Turkish Super Cup, with Galatasaray leading 5-3 in wins.
- The last eight meetings between the two teams have produced conclusive results, with Cimbom leading 5-3 in wins. Six games in that period have produced over 2.5 goals.
- Cimbom have won four of their last five games in the Super Cup while the Black Eagles have suffered four losses in their last five appearances in the competition.
Galatasaray vs Besiktas Prediction
The Yellow-Reds concluded the 2023-24 season on a good note, winning 11 of their last 12 games. They had a decent run in the pre-season but fell to a 2-0 loss to Parma last week and will look to bounce back with a win here.
The Black Eagles had just one win in their last four games of the 2023-24 season and suffered a 2-1 loss to Kasimpasa in their last competitive game in the Super Lig in May. They had a good run in the pre-season, concluding it with two wins on the trot, and will look to build on that form.
Cimbom won their two meetings against the Black Eagles in the league season and have won four of their last five games in this fixture. Six of the last seven meetings between the two teams have produced over 2.5 goals.
With that in mind and considering Galatasaray's dominance in recent games in this fixture, the defending Turkish Super Lig champions are expected to eke out a narrow win.
Prediction: Galatasaray 3-2 Besiktas
Galatasaray vs Besiktas Betting Tips
Tip 1: Result - Galatasaray to win
Tip 2: Goals - Over/Under 2.5 Goals - Over 2.5 goals
Tip 3: At least one goal to be scored in the second half - Yes
Tip 4: Rafa Silva to score or assist any time - Yes