Galatasaray took a giant leap towards their 25th Turkish Super Lig championship on Saturday, securing a 2-0 victory away at Trabzonspor. The win extended their unbeaten run against the Black Sea side to six matches and leaves them just a single point shy of clinching the coveted title.
Despite a tense and goalless first half played out in front of a vociferous Trabzonspor crowd, Galatasaray emerged a different side after the break. The deadlock was broken in the 66th minute when defender Abdülkerim Bardakcı rose highest to powerfully head the ball into the net. Summer signing Alvaro Morata then sealed the three points for the visitors in the 84th minute, calmly slotting home his sixth goal since his January arrival.
READ: Who is Arda Guler? The 18-year-old ‘Turkish Messi’ Wanted by Europe’s Biggest Clubs
This latest triumph propels Galatasaray’s season record to an impressive 27 wins and a total of 86 points. They maintain a comfortable eight-point lead over fierce rivals Fenerbahçe with only three league fixtures remaining.
A solitary point from their remaining league games against Kayserispor (away), Göztepe (home), or Başakşehir (away) would be enough to secure the championship for Galatasaray, regardless of Fenerbahçe’s results.
Securing this one point would not only see Galatasaray lift the league trophy for a record 25th time but also grant them the distinction of becoming the first Turkish club to adorn their jersey with five stars, each star symbolizing five league titles.
Adding another layer of intrigue to the already intense rivalry, Galatasaray and Trabzonspor are set to clash again in the Turkish Cup final in Gaziantep on May 14th. With one hand seemingly already on the league crown, Galatasaray now has their sights set on achieving a domestic double.
The recent head-to-head statistics underscore Galatasaray’s dominance in this fixture. Since their last defeat to Trabzonspor in January 2022, they have remained unbeaten in six encounters, registering five wins and one draw. Their record in Trabzon is even more formidable, having gone six consecutive visits without a loss since 2018.
Galatasaray’s current form is nothing short of exceptional. They have now recorded seven consecutive victories across all competitions since a narrow 1-0 derby loss to Beşiktaş in late March. This impressive run includes league wins over Samsunspor, Bodrum FK, Eyüpspor, Sivasspor, and now Trabzonspor, alongside cup victories against Fenerbahçe and Konyaspor. During this period, they have scored an impressive 22 goals while conceding a mere four.
Abdülkerim Bardakcı’s headed goal in Trabzon was his fifth goal in all competitions this season, with three of those coming in league matches. Meanwhile, Alvaro Morata has quickly made his mark, scoring five Süper Lig goals and one Turkish Cup goal in just 13 appearances for the Istanbul giants.
Should Galatasaray successfully secure the single point needed to clinch the title, they will add another glorious chapter to their storied history and proudly wear their fifth star as a testament to their enduring success.
