Abdullah Avcı

The Turkish Super League begins on Aug. 11, when last season's dark horse Medipol Başakşehir hosts Bursaspor at home, as fans of all sides feel excited to see world stars who made their way to Turkey on millions of euros of contracts.

Başakşehir, which ended last season in second place behind champion Beşiktaş, signed a whopping 10 players and parted ways with nine.

Beşiktaş has rejected a proposal by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) for the team's coach to manage the national team for the four remaining matches of the 2018 World Cup qualification.

Gaziantepspor has already been relegated but the locals of the culinary capital of the country are taking solace in the fact that more than 25,000 Beşiktaş fans will flock to the southeastern province on May 28 to watch the defending champion attempt to clinch its second title in a row.

Turkish Super League's second-spot Medipol Başakşehir, the dark horse of the season, handed defending champion Beşiktaş a major wound, if not vital, beating the leader 3-1 late on April 30.

The home side began the game at a fast pace and took an early 3-0 lead with back-to-back goals from 19-year-old Cengiz Ünder and Emmanuel Adebayor in the first 18 minutes.

Istanbul's Başakşehir swept aside title contender Galatasaray 4-0 on April 10 to continue its pursuit of leader Beşiktaş in a match that was marked by veteran striker Emmanuel Adebayor's stunning hat trick.

Coach Abdullah Avcı's charges remained within touching distance of Beşiktaş, which beat a strong Trabzonspor 4-3 on April 8.

The Spor Toto Turkish Super League resumes this weekend after a national team break with Medipol Başakşehir, in hot pursuit of leader Beşiktaş, visiting relegation-threatened Akhihsar Belediyespor on April 1. 

Fenerbahçe managed to stay in the Spor Toto Super League title competition with a 1-0 victory at home on Jan. 22 against Başakşehir.

Ozan Tufan scored the only goal of the match in the 28th minute to end the visiting side's unbeaten run in the league this season.

Super Toto Super League leader Medipol Başakşehir, a giant killer turned title contender, is set to pay a crucial - if not historic - visit to Fenerbahçe on Jan. 22.

Başakşehir tops the standings with 39 points from 17 weeks so far and is the sole unbeaten team in the league. 

However, coach Abdullah Avcı still avoids speaking of a title challenge and remains cautious.

Super Toto Super League leader Medipol Başakşehir, a giant killer turned title contender, is set to pay a crucial - if not historic - visit to Fenerbahçe on Jan. 22.

Başakşehir tops the standings with 39 points from 17 weeks so far and is the sole unbeaten team in the league. 

However, coach Abdullah Avcı still avoids speaking of a title challenge and remains cautious.

Medipol Başakşehir, the dark horse of the Turkish Spor Toto Super League, has finished the first half of the season on top of the standings, one point ahead of defending champion Beşiktaş, despite a draw over the weekend.