Trendyol Super League Week-4 Preview

Matchday 4 of the Turkish Süper Lig will be played between 29 August and 1 September. Although several fixtures were postponed in the opening weeks due to European commitments, the league battle is already heating up. League leaders Galatasaray (9 points) return home after a commanding win at Kayserispor, aiming to maintain their perfect run.

One of the major storylines this week revolves around managerial uncertainty at both Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş. Fenerbahçe parted ways with José Mourinho after just two league matches and a Champions League play-off exit, and they are yet to appoint a replacement ahead of Week 4. Beşiktaş, meanwhile, also dismissed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after their Conference League elimination. Local reports suggest Sergen Yalçın is close to taking charge, but no official confirmation has been made.

Elsewhere, Trabzonspor (9 points, 2nd) hosts Samsunspor (6 points, 5th) in a Black Sea derby that could significantly influence the early standings. With Göztepe (7 points) also pushing near the top, this round has the potential to bring further shifts in the table.

Match Schedule – Week 4

Home Team	Away Team	Date	Time
Göztepe A.Ş.	Tümosan Konyaspor	29.08.2025	21:30
Kasımpaşa A.Ş.	Gaziantep Futbol Kulübü A.Ş.	30.08.2025	19:00
Kocaelispor	Zecorner Kayserispor	30.08.2025	19:00
Hesap.com Antalyaspor	Mısırlı.com.tr Fatih Karagümrük A.Ş.	30.08.2025	21:30
Galatasaray A.Ş.	Çaykur Rizespor A.Ş.	30.08.2025	21:30
Rams Başakşehir Futbol Kulübü	İkas Eyüpspor	31.08.2025	19:00
Gençlerbirliği	Fenerbahçe A.Ş.	31.08.2025	19:00
Trabzonspor A.Ş.	Samsunspor A.Ş.	31.08.2025	21:30
Corendon Alanyaspor	Beşiktaş A.Ş.	31.08.2025	21:30

Headlines Before Matchday

Mourinho Dismissed Once Again

José Mourinho’s time at Fenerbahçe ended midway through his second season, following a review of results from the first three matchdays. The team played two league games in that span—securing one win and one draw—before being eliminated from the Champions League play-off by Benfica. The club’s board decided to terminate Mourinho’s tenure ahead of Matchday 4.

Local reports indicate that Mourinho is expected to receive approximately €15 million in severance due to a termination clause in his contract. This adds to his track record of high-cost exits, consistent with several of his previous managerial stints.

One of the main reasons cited for the breakdown in relations was Mourinho’s increasingly critical tone in press conferences. Ahead of the Benfica tie, he openly questioned the club’s transfer activity, remarking:

“If the Champions League was the main goal for our club, I believe something would have happened between the Feyenoord and Benfica games.”

Such comments fueled speculation that tensions with the board had reached a breaking point. The perception that Mourinho had turned his criticism toward the management is widely seen as a decisive factor in the club’s decision to part ways.

Adding a symbolic twist to the story, a banner displayed by Galatasaray supporters last season—labeling Mourinho as the “Most Expensive Influencer in the World”—resurfaced online after his dismissal, underlining the dramatic nature of his exit.

Solskjær Fails to Last at Beşiktaş

Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s time at Beşiktaş lasted just 223 days. Appointed on January 18, 2025, with a 1.5+1 year contract, the Norwegian coach oversaw 29 competitive matches, collecting 15 wins, 5 draws, and 9 defeats, with an average of 1.72 points per game.

His downfall was largely shaped by European disappointments. Beşiktaş crashed out of the UEFA Europa League in the second qualifying round against Shakhtar Donetsk. Although they advanced past St. Patrick’s in the Conference League, they were eliminated in the play-off stage by Lausanne, drawing 1–1 away and losing 1–0 at home.

On the domestic front, performances lacked spirit and intensity, with public criticism mounting that the team was “playing without soul.” Ultimately, the club’s board decided to part ways with the Norwegian coach.

Galatasaray Make a Statement: Wilfried Singo Joins

Galatasaray have completed the blockbuster signing of Ivorian defender Wilfried Stephane Singo from AS Monaco.

In an official disclosure to the Public Disclosure Platform (KAP), the club confirmed that Monaco will receive a net transfer fee of €30,769,230.77, with an additional 10% sell-on clause included in the deal.

Singo has signed a five-year contract starting from the 2025–26 season, and will earn a net salary of €4.8 million per year.

This move makes Singo the second most expensive transfer in Turkish football history. Galatasaray already broke the all-time record in July by securing Victor Osimhen permanently for €75 million. With a fee of around €31 million, Singo now ranks second on the list, followed by Fenerbahçe’s €19.5 million signing of Youssef En-Nesyri.

Champions League Journey Begins: Galatasaray to Face Europe’s Giants

The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League league stage draw, held in Monaco, delivered a challenging yet exhilarating path for Galatasaray. Entering the competition from Pot 4, the Turkish champions found themselves paired with some of Europe’s most formidable sides, setting the stage for a season of high-profile battles under the lights of RAMS Park and across the continent.

Galatasaray will welcome Liverpool, Atlético Madrid, Bodø/Glimt, and Union Saint-Gilloise to Istanbul, offering their fans a taste of both tradition and modern underdog spirit in European football. Meanwhile, away trips will take the team to daunting venues: Manchester City at the Etihad, Eintracht Frankfurt at Deutsche Bank Park, Ajax in Amsterdam, and Monaco at Stade Louis II.

The draw presents a mixture of glamour and grit. Matches against Premier League giants Liverpool and City will test Galatasaray’s defensive discipline, while Atlético’s intensity promises a tactical chess match. Yet, fixtures against Bodø/Glimt and Union SG offer opportunities to secure vital points, provided the Turkish side maintains focus. Away games at Frankfurt and Ajax carry their own dangers, while Monaco’s mix of youth and experience makes them a particularly tricky opponent.

For manager Okan Buruk and his squad, this campaign is not just about competing but proving that Turkish football belongs at the highest level. With marquee signings like Victor Osimhen, Leroy Sané, and Wilfried Singo strengthening the squad, Galatasaray fans are daring to dream of making waves in Europe once again.