Şenol Güneş

Defending champion Beşiktaş made a winning start to the new Spor Toto Super League season by beating Antalyaspor 2-0, while city rival Fenerbahçe was held to a 2-2 draw at newcomer Göztepe over the weekend.

Another newcomer, Malatyaspor, made its debut on the top flight with a 3-1 victory over Osmanlıspor on Aug. 13, while Alanyaspor lost 3-1 at home to Kasımpaşa on Aug. 12.

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.

Beşiktaş coach Şenol Güneş, who earned himself a special place in Beşiktaş's record book by becoming the only Turkish coach to clinch the domestic title with the Black Eagles in back-to-back seasons on May 28, has set higher goals for the Black Eagles. 

Defending champion Beşiktaş clinched the Turkish Super League title after beating a relegated Gazinantepspor 4-0 away only one week before the ending late on May 28.

This was the Black Eagle's second domestic victory in a row under coach Şenol Güneş.

Beşiktaş was excited to achieve its 15th league title to put a third star on its jersey.

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.

Defending Turkish Super League champion Beşiktaş maintained its lead at the top of the standings with three games remaining after it scored a hard-fought victory over historic rival Bursaspor in the closing game of week 31 on May 15. 

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.

The Turkish Super League's defending champions, Beşiktaş, narrowly beat cellar-dweller Adanaspor late on April 24 to increase its cushion over its closest follower, Medipol Başakşehir, to seven points, just a week before the duo meets for a crucial clash. 

Beşiktaş hosts Olympic Lyon in Istanbul on April 20 in the return leg of a 2-1 loss in a Europa League quarterfinals clash.

The biggest advantage for Beşiktaş will be the support of its fans at the Vodafone Arena, where the Istanbul club has yet to lose in five European games, winning two and drawing three. 

Turkish league leader Beşiktaş visits Olympique Lyon on April 13 for the first leg of their Europe League quarter final tie without injured Portugal international Ricardo Quaresma, while striker Vincent Aboubakar is suspended.