The Turkish Super Lig is the top division of Turkish football and with an increasing number of top stars from around the world gracing the division, there has been some very good football witnessed in the last few years. But which side will finish on top of the pile at the end of the 2015-16 season? We will bring you our analysis, predictions and betting tips for the outright winner market, while our live betting odds comparison will ensure you get the best prices from a range of top bookies whichever side you choose to back.
As mentioned, there has been something of an influx of top quality players in recent years with the likes of Samuel Eto’o, Mario Gomez, Wesley Sneijder and Robin van Persie all making the move to Turkey. Admittedly most of those players are past their very best, but they still have plenty to offer their employers and fans.
It is fair to say that the Turkish Super Lig is almost always a three-horse race between Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas, all of whom are based in Istanbul. The three sides have won 50 of the 57 championships between them, 20 for Galatasaray, 19 for Fenerbahce and 11 for Besiktas. Trabzonspor are the most successful club from outside of Istanbul having landed six titles, but their last was back in 1984, while Bursaspor are the only other side to have won the Super Lig, when they shocked the country to take the title in 2010.
As things stand at the time of writing, the Super Lig season is well underway with the sides having played 12 or 13 games. Besiktas – who last won the title in 2009 – are currently sitting pretty at the top of the table on 29 points, two clear of 2014 champions Fenerbahce, though the second-placed team have a game in hand. Current champions Galatasaray are in fourth place on 23 points but they are yet to play Besiktas this season so they could well make ground on their rivals.
Fenerbahce are currently the bookies’ favourites in the outright winner betting, with Bet365 and Sportingbet offering the best odds of just 5/6 on Victor Pereira’s side. They squad includes the likes of former Man United players Nani and Robin van Persie, along with former Chelsea and Liverpool man Raul Meireles. With a smattering of Brazilians and a host of established Turkish stars, Fenerbahce certainly have a good balance to their squad and they will take some stopping given that they’ve lost only once all season (3-2 away to the current league leaders). Whether the short price represents decent value, of course, is open to debate and we are inclined to look further down the betting for our main betting tip.
That comes in the form of the current champions Galatasaray who are now available at very solid betting odds of 5/1 with BetVictor to retain their Super Lig crown after a series of disappointing results. It’s been a November to forget for Mustafa Denizli’s side after losing twice in the Champions League (to Benfica and Atletico Madrid) and in the league to Caykur Rizespor. We are confident, however, that the likes of Wesley Sneijder, Lukas Podolski and Burak Yilmaz can get their team firing on all cylinders again and as soon as their form picks up you can be sure their odds our going to be slashed.
Current leaders Besiktas might tempt some in the outright winner market at best odds of 2/1 with Bet365, but for us Senol Gunes’s team lack the core of top quality players their main title rivals possess, so we’ll be steering clear. Our main betting tip: get on Galatasaray while the odds are still very good value.