What happened in Turkish football today? 08/08/2022

Fenerbahce has got unexpected draw against Umraniyespor

Fenerbahce didnt manage to start Super League campaign in high note as it has drawn with 3:3 scoreline against league newcomers Umraniyespor as Fenerbahce wasnt able to prevent much opponent attacks.

With appointment of Jorge Jesus and some transfers at Fenerbahce, there were both high expectations from Fenerbahce supporters and general Turkish football followers for this game and generally for league had high hopes, but it needs to be mentioned that side wasnt able to fulfill those expectations. In all fairness to Umraniyespor, visitors did provide strong organised and positive perforamance and did deserve win, but Fenerbahce defence performance has all played this role. Fenerbahce during whole game did lack providing high tempo and controllable game and when it did lose possession to Umraniyespor it wasnt able for them to get into high opportunities. Therefore, Fenerbahce did focus too much into attacking game which led without preventing opponent to get into some opportunities. Only positive note which could be seen for Fenerbahce is to fight for win until last minute of the game.

Umraniyespor meanwhile has provided much more aggressive and attacking game which been affected and without doubt has aimed to provide its own game which led them to create high number of opportunities. Fenerbahce poor defence game has also played role here for role.

Fenerbahce didnt have start of the season how it was expecting too and has led for Jorge Jesus to go through tactical game as too much attacking game will have issues in this league.

Galatasaray got win thanks to Gomis goal on last minute.

Galatasaray has won Super League opening game against tough opponents Antalyaspor as it always been played at pretty tough conditions due of high humidity which is common event in Antalya during summer months.

It needs to be mentioned that despite of humitidy, as Antalya tends to have highest humidity in country, both sides has managed to provide high tempo game with high number of opportunities. In fact and especially during 1st half, Antalyaspor did provide much more attacking game and has got great opportunity with one-on-one opportunity and also penalty decision which been taken very poorly by Luiz Adriano. However, Galatasaray did show some strong performance but it needed to wait for winning goal until 90th minute, which been scored by Bafetembi Gomis who did crucial touch after coming onto field as he got great assist from Midjso who also showed that he could become key player.

To all fairness, it is hard to state that Galatasaray did deserve win more than Antalyaspor but it did show some effective attacking game and got winning goal right in the end of the game.

Out of 35 teams would need to have at least 14 Turkish national players.

TFF has announced today changed to its guidelines of Super League season among players in the squad, stating that 14 players would need to be Turkish national with 4 being born after after 1998.

Hence, this decision that in total of 35 players, 19 would be still foreign and hence team would be free to have more foreigners in its squad which does raise questions if unhappiness of club administrators is being justifiable. However, once again it is important for sides to pay attention to its academy so it could develop strong Turkish players and hence dont be too relied to foreign players limit and also to investment both to themselves and also generally to Turkish football. This should be for sure one of the priorities during upcoming season.

Decision of TFF would provide some help to Turkish football as long as clubs would pay attention to academy of its own clubs.

Results:

Turkish Super League, 1st week:

Basaksehirspor 4:0 Kasimpasa

Ankaragucu 0:0 Konyaspor

Fenerbahce 3:3 Umraniyespor

In other news:

- Turkish referee Ali Palabiyik has been appointed to Conference League 3rd qualifying round 2nd leg game between Vitoria Guimaraes and Hajduk Split.

- Basaksehirspor has extended partnership deal with Moovit.

- Ankaragucu has signed sponsorship deal with MIA Teknoloji.

- Galatasaray has announced that club has made transfer deal with Arsenal player Lucas Torreira for 6 million euro transfer fee for 4-years. Salary of player will be 2,750,000 euro.

- Galatasaray has signed Dries Mertens for 1+1 years with 1st season salary will be 2,900,000 euro + 1,100,000 euro signing money

- Lecce has loaned Hellas Verona player Mert Cetin.

- Istanbulspor has extended contract with its players Ibrahim Yilmaz, Mehmet Yesil, Jetmir Topalli, Alp Arda, Abdullah Dijon Aydin, Yusuf Ali Ozer and Michael Ologo until 2027.

- Gaziantep has signed Eintracht Frankfurt player Berkan Kupekillinic.

- Galatasaray are interested to transfer West Ham United player Nikola Vlasic.

- Galatasaray has declined 12 million euro transfer offer from Sevilla for Victor Nelsson.

- Qatar club has send offer to Trabzonspor for Djaniny Semedo.

- Besiktas has started transfer negotiations with Olympique Marseille for Jason Denayer.

- It is reported that Galatasaray has accepted 18.5 million euro transfer offer of Sevilla for Victor Nelsson.

- Alanyaspor are interested to loan Arsenal player Runar Alex Runarsson

- Besiktas are interested to transfer Verona player Koray Gunter.

- AlIttifak has offered 1 million euro to Besiktas for Wellinton.