Süper Lig, Monday, 12.08.2024 at 20:00
Can Basaksehir challenge for the title this season? The new season kicks off on Monday, with the aim of at least retaining fourth place from 2024/25. The opponent? Difficult to predict!
However, I can quickly say in advance: Strong at home, that was just that opponent enormously. So there’s a lot to analyze in my Rizespor Basaksehir tip, but I’ll tell you why I’m betting cautiously and suspect the “double chance X2” at under 4.5 goals
We have of course mentioned it several times in recent months: In the 2023/24 season, Fenerbahce and Galatasaray dominated everything and everyone, with the competition ultimately only playing for third to 20th place.
Basaksehir were also unable to keep up with the big two. In the end, they finished with 18 wins, seven draws and 13 defeats, which was enough for fourth place, but no more than that
Perhaps the result could have been a little more successful, but the start to the season was nothing. Four defeats without a goal, two wins from the first twelve games, Basaksehir bobbed around at the bottom for a long time.
Things finally improved just before Christmas, but it took until April before they managed four wins in a row. By finishing fourth, Basaksehir can now prove themselves in the Conference League qualifiers
That’s interesting because these games are the only ones by which I can measure the team’s form. They’ve already played here three times before the Süper Lig kicks off on Monday.
The first opponent was La Fiorita, certainly no superpower in international soccer. After Basaksehir had clearly won the first leg with a 6:1 victory, the players also shone in the second duel, which resulted in a 4:0 win
Iberia 1999, also anything but a fixture in the European Cup, are the opponents in Round 3. Basaksehir won the first leg a few days ago, but had to tremble in a close 1:0.
Nevertheless, the three games have certainly helped the team to get into an early rhythm. Wins by the skin of their teeth or efficient performances, Basaksehir seem to be able to do both
The team looks well-coordinated, but that is of course also due to the fact that the basic structure has remained the same. The two players for whom transfer fees were paid were signed on loan.
In other words, good conditions for the start of the league, and Rizespor are anything but a fearsome opponent. They have only lost one of their last 13 head-to-head meetings, but that was their most recent away appearance in a 3-2 defeat
It’s hard to imagine that in the other four games, let’s take a look at the last five, all of them have been wins to nil. Do the bookmakers’ current odds imply this fact?
Not only at Bet-at-home do the odds average 2.20 to 3.00, so the advantage is relatively small
Rizespor returned to the Süper Lig in 2023, sold themselves superbly last season and finished ninth with 50 points. This strong finish can be explained relatively quickly
13 defeats away from home. Three at home, the Whites and Reds were really strong at home! Only Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, the two high-flyers in 2023/24, were stronger, third place in the home table was worthy of all honors.
Fenerbahce, Besiktas and Galatasaray, Rizespor actually only lost to the big three from Istanbul last season. Incidentally, they had to say goodbye to central defender Emirhan Topcu, who moved to Besiktas.
However, the club itself did not go on a big shopping spree, loaning out several players and only spending a little money on Muhamed Buljubasic from FK Sarajevo and Giannis Papanikolaou from Rakow.
Basaksehir know that this start to the season can only be better than the last! They don’t want to have so many defeats in a row without scoring goals again, as things got off to a good start in the Conference League qualifiers.
First they scored a lot of goals and conceded none. However, Rizespor should never be underestimated in their own stadium, although it is difficult to analyze, as no match has yet been played in the new season.
That’s why I’m taking a somewhat cautious approach. The visitors are stronger in terms of quality, so I’ll leave it at “double chance X2”. Based on the last defensive performances, I’ll add something and say:
Basaksehir scores with less than 4.5 goals!
