Istanbul's Başakşehir host Bursaspor in opening game of season
Top flight football returns to Turkey later Friday as last season’s runners-up Başakşehir face Bursaspor in Istanbul.
Last season’s champions Beşiktaş are favorites to retain the title having reinforced their squad with a number of high profile signings including Pepe from Real Madrid and Valencia’s Alvaro Negredo.
Başakşehir will host Bursaspor having also made a number of key buys, such as Eljero Elia from Feyenoord and Gael Clichy from Manchester City.
Fenerbahçe, who finished third last season, have added their ex-keeper Volkan Demirel and Olympique Lyon’s Mathieu Valbeuna, among others.
The other member of Istanbul’s Big Three, Galatasaray, have lost big names such as Lukas Podolski and Wesley Sneijder but signed Maicon, Batefimbi Gomis and Younes Belhanda.
Week 1 schedule (all times local):
Friday
9.45 p.m. Medipol Başakşehir - Bursaspor
Saturday
8.00 p.m. Gençlerbirliği - Kardemir Karabükspor
8.00 p.m Akhisar Belediyespor - Sivasspor
9.45 p.m. Alanyaspor - Kasımpaşa
9.45 p.m. Göztepe - Fenerbahçe
Sunday
8.00 p.m Yeni Malatyaspor - Osmanlıspor
8.00 p.m Trabzonspor - Atiker Konyaspor
9.45 p.m. Beşiktaş – Antalyaspor
Monday
9.45 p.m. Galatasaray - Kayserispor