Süper Lig Matchday 4 Preview: Istanbul Derby Takes Center Stage in a Crucial Weekend
The fourth round of the Trendyol Süper Lig arrives at a decisive moment. With the transfer window nearing its conclusion and European competition moving into the group-stage phase, clubs are under growing pressure to collect points and establish momentum.
The weekend’s biggest attraction will take place in Istanbul, where José Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe welcome Beşiktaş in a high-profile derby between two unbeaten title contenders. Galatasaray, meanwhile, face a demanding away assignment against İstanbul Başakşehir, while Trabzonspor attempt to recover from a damaging defeat and managerial turmoil.
Other fixtures include:
– İstanbul Başakşehir vs Galatasaray
– Fenerbahçe vs Beşiktaş
– Erzurumspor vs Konyaspor
– Kasımpaşa vs Amed SK
– Trabzonspor vs Gençlerbirliği
– Kocaelispor vs Samsunspor
– Göztepe vs Gaziantep FK
İstanbul Başakşehir vs Galatasaray
Kickoff: Friday, September 4, 18:00 BST / 20:00 local time
Venue: Başakşehir Fatih Terim Stadium, Istanbul
Galatasaray begin the weekend at the top of the table after a tense 3-2 victory over Göztepe. Victor Osimhen scored his first goal of the season from the penalty spot, adding further excitement to an attack that has recently been strengthened by the arrival of Rafael Leão from AC Milan and the loan signing of El Chadaille Bitshiabu.
Başakşehir remain a disciplined and difficult opponent on home soil under Çağdaş Atan. Their 1-1 draw against Kasımpaşa last weekend reflected a side capable of frustrating stronger teams. Eldor Shomurodov has looked dangerous in the final third, but Başakşehir’s defensive structure will face a severe test against Galatasaray’s attacking trio of Osimhen, Leão and Gabriel Sara.
Form: Başakşehir D-W-D | Galatasaray W-W-W
Team news: Leão could make his debut as a substitute, while Davinson Sánchez is expected to lead the visiting defence. Başakşehir have no significant new injury concerns.
Tip: Galatasaray to win and over 2.5 goals
Prediction: Başakşehir 1-3 Galatasaray
Galatasaray’s key advantage should be their depth in attack. Even if Leão is not ready to start, the champions have enough pace and individual quality to stretch Başakşehir’s back line. The hosts’ best route to a result will be through quick counterattacks and set pieces.
Fenerbahçe vs Beşiktaş
Kickoff: Saturday, September 5, 18:00 BST / 20:00 local time
Venue: Chobani Stadium FB Şükrü Saracoğlu, Istanbul
The standout fixture of Matchday 4 brings together two ambitious Istanbul rivals. Fenerbahçe go into the derby full of confidence after securing UEFA Champions League group-stage qualification against Lyon. However, Mattéo Guendouzi and Mason Greenwood could still face UEFA disciplinary action following incidents after the match in France.
Their domestic form has also been encouraging. Fenerbahçe defeated Samsunspor 2-0 last weekend, with Vedat Muriqi and Oğuz Aydın finding the net. José Mourinho’s side have shown greater control in possession, although the derby’s intensity will present a far more demanding challenge.
Beşiktaş produced one of the strongest performances of the previous round, beating Çorum FK 6-1 at Tüpraş Stadium. Dušan Vlahović has made an immediate impact, scoring three times in his first three matches, while Fabio Miretti has become an important figure in midfield. The club failed to complete a late move for Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin, but the existing squad remains competitive.
Form: Fenerbahçe L-W-W | Beşiktaş L-W-W
Team news: Romelu Lukaku is pushing for his first league start, potentially replacing Muriqi. Beşiktaş report a fully fit squad, with Vlahović expected to lead the attack.
Tip: Both teams to score and draw
Prediction: Fenerbahçe 2-2 Beşiktaş
This derby could be decided by the midfield battle. Fenerbahçe may look to control possession and use their wide players, while Beşiktaş are likely to rely on Vlahović’s movement and their ability to attack space. Neither side has yet demonstrated complete defensive reliability, making goals at both ends highly likely.
Erzurumspor vs Konyaspor
Kickoff: Saturday, September 5, 15:00 BST / 17:00 local time
Venue: Kazım Karabekir Stadium, Erzurum
Erzurumspor claimed their first point of the campaign with a 1-1 draw away to Gençlerbirliği. Returning to their home ground and high-altitude environment could provide an additional advantage.
Konyaspor, by contrast, have lost consecutive matches against Fenerbahçe and Kocaelispor. Their defensive problems remain a concern, although Erzurumspor have also struggled to produce consistent attacking football.
Form: Erzurumspor L-L-D | Konyaspor W-L-L
Tip: Under 2.5 goals
Prediction: Erzurumspor 1-0 Konyaspor
The match may develop into a cautious contest, particularly if both teams prioritize avoiding another defeat. Home advantage and Konyaspor’s recent defensive weakness give Erzurumspor a narrow edge.
Kasımpaşa vs Amed SK
Kickoff: Sunday, September 6, 15:00 BST / 17:00 local time
Venue: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Stadium, Istanbul
Amed SK delivered one of the round’s biggest surprises by defeating Trabzonspor 2-1 in Diyarbakır. A late winner from substitute Gift Orban completed an impressive comeback, while Dia Saba and Yira Sor supplied a constant threat during transitions.
Kasımpaşa have also made a steady start, combining a 1-0 victory over Çorum FK with a 1-1 draw at Başakşehir. Their results suggest a team that is difficult to break down, although Amed’s confidence will be high after their dramatic success.
Form: Kasımpaşa D-W-D | Amed SK L-L-W
Tip: Amed SK double chance
Prediction: Kasımpaşa 1-1 Amed SK
Kasımpaşa should control more of the ball, but Amed SK’s counterattacking ability could create problems. A draw appears the most balanced outcome, though the visitors have enough momentum to avoid defeat.
Trabzonspor vs Gençlerbirliği
Kickoff: Sunday, September 6, 18:00 BST / 20:00 local time
Venue: Şenol Güneş Sports Complex, Trabzon
Trabzonspor face a difficult week following Fatih Tekke’s resignation after the 2-1 loss to Amed SK. The team appeared disorganized defensively despite Mohamed Salah opening the scoring. Salah has now scored three goals in three games, but his individual form has not been enough to hide the club’s structural problems.
The pressure is increasing on Trabzonspor’s board to appoint a coach capable of restoring balance. Their next decision will be particularly important, with several observers suggesting that Salah’s opinion could carry weight in the process.
Gençlerbirliği arrive after a 1-1 draw with Erzurumspor. They may attempt to exploit the uncertainty around the hosts by defending compactly and attacking quickly after turnovers.
Trabzonspor need a response, but the absence of tactical stability makes this fixture difficult to predict. Their attacking quality should still give them an advantage at home, provided they improve their concentration without the ball.
Kocaelispor vs Samsunspor
Kocaelispor enter the round with confidence after beating Konyaspor 2-1, while Samsunspor are looking to recover from a 2-0 defeat against Fenerbahçe. The hosts have shown greater efficiency in recent weeks, particularly when playing directly and attacking the channels.
Samsunspor will need to improve their defensive discipline and create more support for their forwards. If Kocaelispor score first, they may be able to control the tempo and protect their lead.
Göztepe vs Gaziantep FK
Göztepe’s narrow defeat to Galatasaray showed that they can compete with strong opposition, even though the result left them without points. Their energy and willingness to press remain major strengths.
Gaziantep FK will aim to make the game more physical and prevent Göztepe from building attacks through the middle. This could be one of the closest fixtures of the round, with a low-scoring draw a realistic possibility.
Main talking points before Matchday 4
The weekend’s results could quickly reshape the early league table. Galatasaray have the chance to preserve first place, but Başakşehir’s defensive organization means the leaders cannot afford complacency.
The Istanbul derby is likely to attract the most attention, not only because of the rivalry but also because both clubs see themselves as title contenders. The result may influence early-season confidence and define the narrative surrounding Mourinho’s first major domestic test of the campaign.
Transfer activity will also remain under scrutiny. New signings such as Leão, Vlahović and Lukaku could have an immediate impact, while clubs still searching for reinforcements must balance late recruitment with the need for squad stability.
Overall, Matchday 4 promises attacking quality, managerial pressure and several potentially decisive fixtures. The derby may dominate the headlines, but the battles at both ends of the table could prove equally significant as the Süper Lig season begins to take shape.