Super Lig Predictions > Aug 16th - 19th

[StevieDay1983]

The 2019/20 Turkish Super Lig season is set to begin next weekend. I'm posting the odds up now because we can always bounce ideas and predictions off each other early doors. Share any tips you have for these games. 

[StevieDay1983]

Fenerbahce vs Gazisehir Gaziantep FK

Our first season fully covering the Turkish Super Lig is set to be a really exciting one so I thought we'd start by previewing one of the big guns for the first game. It's Fenerbahce versus Gazisehir Gaziantep FK in a 6pm BST kick-off at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul. Can the home team start on a winning note against a side that could well be facing a relegation battle this season?

Fenerbahce were well off the title pace last season having finished in 6th place and outside the European qualification places. It's simply not good enough for a club this size and manager Ersun Yanal will be looking for an improved finish this season. The club has worked hard to bring in new faces with fans of the Premier League noticing one familiar addition in the shape of former Huddersfield centre back Matthias Jorgensen. The capture of veteran Emre Belozoglu is also a name most British punters will know. The loss of Elif Elmas to Napoli is a big blow but the money from that transfer can hopefully be re-invested.

Gazisehir Gaziantep FK are not only one of the trickiest football club names I've ever had to type in a preview but they also come into this season as one of the biggest outsiders to enter a Super Lig season. Marius Sumudica's men earned promotion through the play-offs after finishing 5th in the second tier of Turkish football. They are already being written so they have nothing to lose.

Former Werder Bremen striker Max Kruse is another signing by Fenerbahce and he's delivered the goods in pre-season. I think he could be crucial in this game to unlocking a sturdy Gazisehir Gaziantep FK back-line. The bookies think the home side are firm favourites and I totally understand why. I wouldn't be surprised if they come away from this game with a 2-3 goal margin of victory.

Fenerbahce -1 @ 2.25 with Boylesports

Fenerbahce HT/FT @ 2.15 with Sportingbet

@Magic0024, @betcatalog, @rainmaker35, @black_baar, and @Tahador, what bets are tempting you all this weekend?

[black_baar]

A few words about Fenerbahce. The newcomers Muriqi, Kruse, Rodrigues and Zanka are expected to start in the starting eleven. Tolgay Arslan, Serdar Aziz and Hasan Ali Kaldırım are injured. Kaldırım has no replacement. Right back Dirar is expected to play left back. since Aziz is injured and Skrtel left the club, there is a big question mark on who will play as center backs. Probably Zanka(dont know if he is ready) and Jailson (defensive midfielder). Although Ozan Tufan seemed well in the preparation matchs, fans are expecting Luis Gustavo instead. Veteran Belozoğlu is 36 years old now and cannot keep up the 90 minutes match. Upfront players seems less problematic.

Title contenders Besiktas, Galatasaray, Trabzonspor and Basaksehir all lost points in the first week of the Turkish leaugue. Fenerbahce plays at home and will be very motivated. No idea about Gaziantep.