IconSport/USA TODAY Sports
The Turkish Super League‘s opening week brings us a tasty encounter between heavyweights Besiktas and Trabzonspor from Istanbul. Both sides are capable of winning and are absolutely expected to do so.
With newest additions Michael Eneramo (striker), Pedro Franco (defender) and Sezer Ozturk (midfielder), Besiktas are expected to have a very successful season with new head coach Slaven Bilic taking the reigns from Samet Aybaba.
The team are expected to play a 4-2-3-1 which is defensive oriented, but very good on the counter which is one of this side’s specialties. Coach Bilic played this type of system when he coached Croatia to many successes, including a quarter-final finish in EURO 2008 when they ironically exited at the hands of Turkey.
Trabzonspor have signed famous French international midfielder Florent Malouda and famed wing-back Jose Bosingwa to add experience and leadership to a team that desperately needs it. The reason for Bosingwa is also since they recently allowed Serkan Balci to depart to start a new adventure in Antalya.
The team has been very successful in its recent Europa League qualifiers as they are undefeated thanks to goals scored by top striker Paolo Henrique, who is anticipated to score many goals this season both domestically and in Europe.
The game is going to be played Sunday at 2:45 p.m. EDT and it could not be at a better time or a better day as many will be sitting down to catch this one. Whoever wins this will make an early statement in the title/top four race.
Prediction: Besiktas 1, Trabzonspor 1. The home side will play well, but the visitors will not be intimidated as they will possess the ball successfully and create many chances with their former keeper Tolga Zengin, who’s expected to keep most of the shots out of goal.
Speaking of Zengin, he was a long time Trabzon starter and sub, and the first team he joins is Besiktas, what are the odds that the first team he plays against is his beloved old club — this will be especially tough for him.
