The first major derby clash between the big three Istanbul teams took place on Saturday evening, as the faultless Galatasaray looked to make it eight wins from eight against an improving Besiktas.
A few days after their amazing - but exhausting - triumph against Liverpool in the Champions League, Okan Buruk opted to start the same team to continue the momentum they had.
However, the players were clearly a bit fatigued and lacked energy at the start of the game, and as a result, Tammy Abraham gave Besiktas a first-half lead.
Matters were made worse soon after, as Davinson Sanchez was sent off for tripping up Rafa Silva when the Portuguese attacker was through on goal.
Yet that seemed to spur Galatasaray on.
With 10 men, the three-time defending champions dominated the game, controlling proceedings. Eventually, they found an equaliser, as Lucas Torreira nicked back the ball for Ilkay Gundogan to slot home with expert coolness for his first goal for his boyhood club.
The game ended 1-1, and although their perfect start to the Super Lig season was over, Galatasaray should certainly be pretty happy with that point considering the context.
Playing with 10 men for an hour after going a goal down against one of the best teams in the country, a few days after major physical exertions in Europe, it is a good point.
Meanwhile, Besiktas will be disappointed not to have got the victory, but overall, there is definite improvement under Sergen Yalcin. They look a lot more like a balanced team, and are now unbeaten in three games.
The point was made even better for Galatasaray when arch-rivals Fenerbahce could only draw 0-0 away at the impressive Samsunspor.
In truth, Samsun were the better side, and should have even won the game. There is little doubt that they are one of the best-coached teams in the Premier League, and that is down to German Thomas Reis.
They had a remarkable 2024/25 season campaign, finishing in third and qualifying for the Conference League. Making their first-ever European appearance, they got three points on the board last week with a fine 1-0 win at Legia.
Reis has made Samsun a pragmatic team with high energy, despite spending very little money. He is doing the best managerial job in Turkey, and he deserves as much praise as possible. The fact that they were disappointed with a draw illustrates how much progress they have made.
For Fener, it is another poor result this season. With one win in their last four league games, things haven't looked great under Domenico Tedesco yet. A Super Lig title is extremely unlikely with the way they are playing at the moment, and they currently sit in fourth, six points off league leaders Galatasaray.
Trabzonspor and Goztepe impress again
Sitting above Fenerbahce, though, are two teams who have started the season brilliantly: Trabzonspor and Goztepe.
With an excellent 4-0 win over Kayserispor on Friday evening, Trabzonspor moved up to second. Fatih Tekke looks to finally get things clicking at the club, and their attacking football seems to be improving.
Trabzon didn't score more than a single goal in any of their first six games, but now have eight goals in their last two.
Meanwhile, incredibly, Goztepe moved up to third after a 1-0 victory over Istanbul Basaksehir, continuing their unbeaten start. Perhaps more staggeringly, they have conceded just TWO goals.
Goztepe are the only Turkish team owned by foreign investors - Sport Republic, who are also the majority shareholder in Southampton.
A lot of money has been spent on the club, bringing in several young players, especially Brazilians, such as Rhaldney Gomes, Janderson and Juan Santos.
Bulgarian coach Stanimir Stoilov has them playing in a back three, and they are destructive in transition.
While a lot of focus is on teams like Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, and the traditional 'Big Four', Samsunspor and Goztepe deserve so much credit for the outfits they have become in the last two years.
Team of the Week
Incredibly, six Trabzonspor players make the Flashscore Team of the Week, according to our very own internal player ratings, while winger Oleksandr Zubkov is the Player of the Week after a goal in his side's win.
