Founded in 1959, the Turkish Süper Lig has increasingly become the focus of various betting offerings, particularly in recent years. The league—officially known as the Turkcell Süper Lig—is represented on the international stage by three teams, which has helped it reach 12th place in the UEFA five-year ranking. Most recently, Galatasaray Istanbul’s victory in the UEFA Cup in 2000 also brought the league international renown. Today, many betting shops offer specific bets on Süper Lig matches. The best ones you can find at 20Bet Asia.
History of the League
Founded in 1959, the league, much like the German Bundesliga, consists of 18 teams competing for the national championship. However, only four different teams have achieved this so far: Galatasaray, Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe Istanbul, and Trabzonspor. Today, the three Istanbul-based teams almost exclusively play a role in the championship race and are also the only teams to have played continuously in the Süper Lig without ever being relegated. With 17 titles each, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray are tied for the most championships won.
After Benfica Lisbon and FC Barcelona, Fenerbahçe Istanbul has the third-largest membership worldwide. Internationally, its greatest success to date was reaching the quarterfinals of the 2008 Champions League, where the team was ultimately defeated by Chelsea FC. In contrast, Galatasaray celebrated a major international triumph by winning the 1999 UEFA Cup, a victory that also had a positive impact on the league’s global profile. Beşiktaş, on the other hand, has not yet achieved major success on the international stage, but is the oldest of the three major teams, having been founded in 1903.
Betting Platform – Turkcell Süper Lig
Many major online betting sites offer bets on the Turkish Süper Lig and the national cup, the Fortis Türkiye Kupası. Some of these offers are available in both German and Turkish. As in other leagues, there is a wide range of betting options available. In long-term bets, you can wager on the champion and the teams that will be relegated. In single bets, individual Turkish matches can be bet on separately, and live betting—where you bet on specific game situations during a match—is also becoming increasingly popular.
The Favorite – Galatasaray
Galatasaray is arguably the biggest name in Turkish soccer worldwide. As such, they are among the favorites to win the national championship every year. After two rather disappointing seasons, they finally won the title again last season, thanks in part to coach Fatih Terim. Galatasaray Istanbul truly revitalized Turkish soccer with their UEFA Cup victory over Arsenal London in 2000. Since then, Galatasaray has enjoyed an outstanding national reputation, as evidenced by its Facebook following. The many well-known international players, such as Wesley Sneijder and Lukas Podolski, have also helped expand the fan base. For the new season, however, investments have been more selective, with the arrivals of Yuto Nagatomo (€2.5 million), Henry Onyekuru (on loan), and Mugdat Celik (on a free transfer). While some players, including Cavanda, Günter, and Öztekin, have left the club, we still see Galatasaray as very well-positioned for the new season.
Galatasaray Istanbul’s team is very strong at home and virtually unbeatable at the Türk Telekom Arena. Last season, they won 16 of their 17 home games, with one draw. Betting on home wins is therefore an absolute must. After winning the title last season, we therefore consider them the top favorites once again. Internationally, however, we would be more cautious with our bets.