Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

Bodrumsporvs.Gaziantep

sportsmole.co.uk, 10 August 2024, 20:42
Bodrumspor will kick off their inaugural season in the Turkish Super Lig by hosting Gaziantep at the Bodrum Ilce Stadi on Monday in the opening match of the 2024-25 campaign.

The hosts secured promotion to the top division with a 3-1 win in the playoff final last year, while the visitors finished 11th in the top flight with 44 points.

Match preview

Bodrumspor have experienced a phenomenal ascent up the Turkish football leagues in recent seasons, achieving four promotions in the past 10 seasons to now compete in the Turkish Super Lig for the first time.

They were promoted out of the amateur divisions and into the TFF Third League in 2014-15, moved into the TFF Second League in 2016-17, promoted into the TFF First League in 2021-22 and eventually into the top flight last campaign.

Bodrumspor narrowly missed out on promotion in 2022-23, suffering a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat in the playoff final, but redeemed themselves in the following term by winning the 2023-24 playoff final 3-1 with two goals in extra time.

Their promotion earned the club their first-ever appearance in the Turkish Super Lig, making them the first side from the Muğla Province to reach the top division.

Ismet Tasdemir, who has been in charge since October 2021, will be aiming to extend his side's stay in the division this term, and an opening-day victory against Gaziantep would be the perfect start.

The visitors are likely to be a tough challenge for the hosts, boasting the experience of competing at the top level of Turkish football for the past six years.

Since being promoted ahead of the 2019-20 season, Gaziantep have established themselves as a mid-table side in all of the following years, finishing eighth, ninth, and 15th.

They did withdraw from the 2022-23 season due to the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquakes but were allowed to re-enter for the 2023-24 season, where they finished 11th.

Selcuk Inan, who took charge of the side in March 2024, lost four of his first five games in charge but ended the season with three successive wins, a run he will be eager to carry into the new campaign.

Gaziantep fared reasonably when playing on the road last season, amassing the ninth-highest points tally of any side when away from home, with 20 points from 19 matches.

Team News

The hosts will be without Tunahan Akpinar and Mustafa Erdilman, who are both nursing long-term injuries and are not expected to return to the side for a number of weeks.

Elsewhere, Christophe Herelle, Zdravko Dimitrov and Fredy could be in line to make their debut for the club.

The visitors will have a fully fit squad available for this game, leaving Inan with plenty of decisions to make.

Sokratis Dioudis, Godfrey Bitok, Kacper Kozlowski and Quentin Daubin are among the summer signings that could make their debut here.

Bodrumspor possible starting lineup:

Sousa; Ergun, Celustka, Herelle, Sen; Bayrakdar, Brazao, Obekpa, Fredy, Dimitrov; Osman

Gaziantep possible starting lineup:

Dioudis; M'Bakata, Saborit, Ersoy, Bitok; Maxim, Daubin, Kozlowski; Eskihellac, Kodro, Cihan

We say: Bodrumspor 0-1 Gaziantep

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

18 March 2025 talksport.com Al Nassr are plotting a stunning move to sign Gabriel Magalhaes this summer, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 talksport.com A trio of England under-21 players joined Thomas Tuchel's training session on Tuesday. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have confirmed that Cole Palmer has returned from the England squad to undergo further assessment on the injury he sustained before Sunday's 1-0 loss to Arsenal. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Continuing their quest for a first UEFA Nations League crown, Italy will welcome familiar foes Germany to San Siro on Thursday evening, as the pair play out the first leg of an enticing quarter-final tie. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal fans may have to wait until next season to see the best of Bukayo Saka ahead of his imminent return from hamstring surgery, Gunners expert Charles Watts believes. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Jean-Philippe Mateta injury was so severe his plastic surgeon refused to show him pictures of his ear. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ultimately aiming to claim a first UEFA Nations League title, Germany will kick off their quarter-final clash with old foes Italy on Thursday. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey has suggested that Darwin Nunez could still have a future at Anfield, but not as Arne Slot's starting number nine. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Armenia host neighbours Georgia in Yerevan on Thursday evening, as the two nations fight for the right to play in league B of the UEFA Nations League. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Liverpool are ready to consider offers for striker Darwin Nunez, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Austria host Serbia on Thursday evening, looking to gain an advantage in their two-legged playoff for the right to play in Group A of the UEFA Nations League. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking a place in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals, European heavyweights Italy and Germany will convene at San Siro on Thursday, for the first leg of their quarter-final tie. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Luka Modric has reportedly decided whether he intends to remain at Real Madrid past the end of the season. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Leicester player Hamza Choudhury was mobbed by fans after arriving for his first senior international call-up. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea winger Mykhaylo Mudryk is allegedly the subject of surprise interest from a Bundesliga club. 18 March 2025 talksport.com A brand-new competition will be taking place this summer, with some of the world's biggest clubs eyeing glory in the USA. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Ola Aina had a hilarious response to discovering he would be sharing a bed with Alex Iwobi on international duty. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Arsenal have added Carabao Cup winning Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes to their list of summer transfer targets, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Vying for a place in the UEFA Nations League's top tier, Scotland and Greece will meet for the first leg of their promotion/relegation playoff on Thursday. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Troy Deeney has reiterated his belief that Mohamed Salah is 'not world class' after his Wembley woes. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Papiss Cisse has been convinced to come out of retirement at the age of 39 by a former Newcastle teammate. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams at opposite ends of Group C in the third round of AFC World Cup qualifiers will clash on Thursday as leaders Japan face Bahrain. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Danny Drinkwater was once given just an hour to leave Chelsea and led to a bust-up with the manager. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have no hope of clawing back their 12-point Premier League deficit to Liverpool despite the Reds' recent problems, Gunners expert Charles Watts believes. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United and Bayern Munich are reportedly among the clubs who have discovered the asking price of RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are one of three Premier League clubs who could reportedly pip rivals Manchester United and Chelsea to the signing of Sporting Lisbon's in-demand striker Viktor Gyokeres this summer. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Brazil and Colombia go head-to-head in the 38th instalment of this international fixture in Brasilia on Thursday night. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk There will be no return to the Brazil fold for Neymar in their clash with Colombia on Thursday night, as he has pulled out of the upcoming squad with injury. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal, Liverpool and Barcelona have all reportedly suffered a major blow in their pursuit of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak ahead of the summer transfer window. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Thomas Tuchel not only raised eyebrows with his selections in his first England squad - but also with his omissions.