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This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
Trendyol Süper Lig's 28th matchweek features a football match with direct implications for the league summit and the championship race. The encounter will take place on Saturday 4 April 2026 at 20:00 in the city of Trabzon, at the Papara Park Stadium.
Trabzonspor-Galatasaray derby infographic (AA)
The Turkish Football Federation has appointed Cihan Aydın as the match referee. The high-stakes encounter will be broadcast live and encrypted via the beIN Sports 1 channel. Prior to the match, the Trabzonspor Board of Directors issued official appeals to fans urging unity within the club community.
Before the derby, guest team Galatasaray has accumulated 64 points from 26 matches, with 20 wins, 4 draws and 2 losses. Despite having played one fewer match than most teams, they sit at the top of the league. Galatasaray holds a four-point lead over their closest rivals, Trabzonspor and Fenerbahçe. Home team Trabzonspor has recorded 18 wins, 6 draws and 3 losses in the same period, earning 60 points and securing third place on goal difference.
The yellow-red team has scored 62 goals in the last 27 matchweeks, making them the highest-scoring side in the Süper Lig, while conceding only 18 goals, the fewest in the league. Trabzonspor, during the same period, has scored 53 goals. After being eliminated by English club Liverpool in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16, Galatasaray has shifted its full focus to the Süper Lig title race, benefiting from a lighter fixture schedule.
With this match, the two clubs will meet for the 143rd time in history. Since Trabzonspor’s promotion to the top division in the 1974–75 season, spanning 52 years, Galatasaray has won 66 of the 142 official and friendly matches played so far, Trabzonspor has won 44, and 32 have ended in draws. Galatasaray has scored a total of 196 goals against Trabzonspor, while Trabzonspor has scored 157.
Focusing solely on league matches, Galatasaray has won 47 of the 105 encounters, Trabzonspor has won 32, and 26 have ended in draws. In league matches played in Trabzon, the home team holds a slight edge in victories: the Black Sea club has won 20 matches compared to Galatasaray’s 19, with 13 matches ending in draws.
Galatasaray has not lost any of their last nine official matches against Trabzonspor. Since their most recent defeat on 23 January 2022, when they lost 2–1 to Trabzonspor in the league, Galatasaray has won seven and drawn two in seven Süper Lig matches, one Turkish Cup match and one Süper Cup match, scoring 22 goals and conceding six. The highest-scoring match between the two sides was on 15 November 1998, when Trabzonspor won 5–3. Galatasaray’s largest victories in the rivalry came on 26 May 2001 with a 4–0 win and on 21 January 2024 with a 5–1 win; Trabzonspor’s biggest win was a 4–0 victory on 1 September 2018. The first of the two matches this season ended in a 0–0 draw during the 11th matchweek in Istanbul; the second, played in Gaziantep in the Turkcell Süper Cup semifinal, ended in a 4–1 win for Galatasaray.
Trabzonspor has not won a home match against any of Istanbul’s “Big Three” — Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş — in 930 days. Their last home victory against an Istanbul giant came on 17 September 2023, when they defeated Beşiktaş 3–0. Their most recent overall victory against one of these rivals occurred on 4 November 2023, when they beat Fenerbahçe 3–2 away under then-head coach Abdullah Avcı.
In the 882 days since that date, Trabzonspor has played 13 league matches against these rivals, suffering 10 defeats and drawing three, without a single win. The club has also lost two Ziraat Turkish Cup finals during this period: one 3–2 to Beşiktaş at Atatürk Olympic Stadium and another 3–0 to Galatasaray in Gaziantep. In their last 16 official “big matches” — including Süper Lig, Turkish Cup and Süper Cup — Trabzonspor has suffered 13 defeats and drawn three.
Galatasaray faces significant absences ahead of their trip to Trabzon. Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, who suffered a fractured arm during the Champions League match against Liverpool, and German winger Leroy Sané, who received a direct red card in the Beşiktaş derby during matchweek 25, will both miss this match. Brazilian player Gabriel Sara, who returned from the national team camp injured, may or may not feature; his availability will be confirmed on matchday. Galatasaray’s national team player Eren Elmalı is suspended on yellow card accumulation and will be banned for the next match against Göztepe if he receives a card in this game. On the other hand, Galatasaray’s Argentine striker Mauro Icardi has scored a total of four goals against Trabzonspor in his career — three in the Süper Lig and one in the Süper Cup — across four league and one Süper Cup appearances.
Another focal point of the match, adding to the tension, is the situation of national team goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır, who transferred from Trabzonspor to Galatasaray at the start of the season for a €27.5 million transfer fee. The former captain, who won one Süper Lig title, one Ziraat Turkish Cup and two Süper Cups while wearing the Trabzonspor jersey, will face his former club for the first time in his career at Papara Park in Trabzon.
Trabzonspor President Ertuğrul Doğan described Çakır’s request to transfer to an Istanbul club as the biggest shock of his life. Doğan stated that the club sold Çakır to the highest bidder in accordance with its interests and emphasized that no player has the right to hold a grudge against Trabzonspor, reaffirming the club’s vision of continuing with character-driven players.
Furthermore, a deep rift exists between the two club administrations due to transfer disputes. According to President Doğan, Galatasaray intervened in the case of a player identified and formally agreed upon by Trabzonspor’s scouting committee and offered a higher bid. Despite prior warnings from Trabzonspor’s management that such actions would damage inter-club relations, Galatasaray proceeded with the transfer, leading Trabzonspor to suspend its friendly relations with the Istanbul club.
Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk has not lost any of his nine official matches against Trabzonspor since taking charge of the yellow-red team in his fourth season — winning seven and drawing two (seven Süper Lig, one Turkish Cup, one Süper Cup). Similarly, Galatasaray has demonstrated dominance over teams managed by current Trabzonspor head coach Fatih Tekke. In seven league matches against Tekke’s former clubs — Trabzonspor, Alanyaspor and İstanbulspor — Galatasaray has won six and drawn one. Despite these statistics, Trabzonspor President Ertuğrul Doğan has declared his full support for Fatih Tekke, praising his courage to field young players and emphasizing his strong alignment with the club’s overall vision.
Analysts in the sports media have highlighted the high stakes of the match. Former footballer Metin Tekin noted that Galatasaray holds a clear advantage in squad quality but emphasized that a Trabzon away match has historically always presented a genuine away-game atmosphere for Istanbul clubs. Tekin pointed to the four-point gap between the teams, stating that this match could be a decisive turning point in the title race and that a potential Trabzonspor victory could completely alter the balance of the championship competition.
Trendyol Süper Lig's 28th matchweek featured a football match with direct implications for the league summit and the championship race. The encounter took place on Saturday 4 April 2026 at 20:00 in Trabzon, at the Papara Park Stadium, where Trabzonspor won 2-1.
Trabzonspor-Galatasaray derby infographic (AA)
The Turkish Football Federation appointed Cihan Aydın as the match referee. The high-stakes encounter will be broadcast live and encrypted via the beIN Sports 1 channel. Prior to the match, Trabzonspor’s Board of Directors issued official appeals to fans, urging unity within the club community.
Before the derby, visiting team Galatasaray, after 26 matches in the league, recorded 20 wins, 4 draws and 2 losses, accumulating 64 points and leading the league despite having played one fewer match than their closest rivals. Galatasaray holds a four-point advantage over both Trabzonspor and Fenerbahçe. Home team Trabzonspor, in the same period, achieved 18 wins, 6 draws and 3 losses, totaling 60 points and securing third place on goal difference.
The yellow-red team has scored 62 goals in the last 27 matchweeks, making them the highest-scoring side in the Süper Lig, while conceding only 18 goals, the fewest in the league. Trabzonspor, during the same period, scored 53 goals against their opponents. After being eliminated by English club Liverpool in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16, Galatasaray has shifted its full focus to the league championship race, benefiting from the relaxed fixture schedule following their exit from the European competition.
With this match, the two teams will face each other for the 143rd time in history. Since Trabzonspor’s promotion to the top division in the 1974-1975 season, spanning 52 years, Galatasaray has won 66 of the 142 official and friendly matches played so far, Trabzonspor has won 44, and 32 ended in draws. Galatasaray has scored a total of 196 goals in these encounters, while Trabzonspor has scored 157.
Focusing solely on league matches, Galatasaray has won 47 of the 105 encounters, Trabzonspor has won 32, and 26 ended in draws. In league matches played in Trabzon, the home team holds a slight edge in victories: the Black Sea side has secured 20 wins compared to Galatasaray’s 19, with 13 matches ending in draws.
Galatasaray has not lost any of their last nine official matches against Trabzonspor. Since their most recent defeat on 23 January 2022 in the league (2-1), they have played seven Süper Lig matches, one Turkish Cup match and one Süper Cup match, winning seven and drawing two. During this period, Galatasaray scored 22 goals and conceded six. The highest-scoring match between the two sides occurred on 15 November 1998, when Trabzonspor won 5-3. Galatasaray’s largest victories in this rivalry came on 26 May 2001 (4-0) and 21 January 2024 (5-1); Trabzonspor’s biggest win was a 4-0 result on 1 September 2018. The first of the two matches played this season ended in a 0-0 draw in Istanbul during the 11th matchweek; the second, a Turkcell Süper Cup semi-final in Gaziantep, ended in a 4-1 victory for Galatasaray.
Trabzonspor has not won a home match against any of Istanbul’s “Big Three” — Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş — in 930 days. Their last home victory against one of these rivals came on 17 September 2023, when they defeated Beşiktaş 3-0. Their most recent overall victory against any of the Big Three occurred on 4 November 2023, when they won 3-2 away at Fenerbahçe under then-head coach Abdullah Avcı.
In the 882 days since that date, Trabzonspor has played 13 league matches against these rivals, suffering 10 defeats and drawing three, without a single win. The bordo-mavi side has also lost two Ziraat Turkish Cup finals during this period: one against Beşiktaş at Atatürk Olympic Stadium (3-2) and another against Galatasaray in Gaziantep (3-0). Overall, in their last 16 official high-stakes matches — including Süper Lig, Turkish Cup and Süper Cup — Trabzonspor has suffered 13 defeats and drawn three.
Galatasaray’s squad faces significant absences ahead of their Trabzon away match. Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, who suffered a fractured arm during the Champions League match against Liverpool, and German winger Leroy Sané, who received a direct red card in the Beşiktaş derby during the 25th matchweek and is suspended, will both miss this fixture. The participation of Brazilian player Gabriel Sara, who returned from national team camp injured, will be confirmed on matchday. Galatasaray’s national team player Eren Elmalı is currently at the yellow card suspension threshold; if he receives a card in this match, he will be suspended for the next fixture against Göztepe. On the other hand, Galatasaray’s Argentine striker Mauro Icardi has scored a total of four goals against Trabzonspor in his career — three in the Süper Lig and one in the Süper Cup — across four league and one Süper Cup appearances.
Another point of significant attention and rising tension surrounding the match concerns the status of national team goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır, who transferred from Trabzonspor to Galatasaray at the start of the season for a €27.5 million transfer fee. The former captain, who won one Süper Lig title, one Ziraat Turkish Cup and two Süper Cups while wearing the Trabzonspor jersey, will face his former club for the first time in his career at Papara Park in Trabzon.
Trabzonspor President Ertuğrul Doğan described Çakır’s request for permission to transfer to an Istanbul club as the biggest shock of his life. Doğan stated that the club sold Çakır to the highest bidder in accordance with its best interests and emphasized that no player has the right to hold a grudge against Trabzonspor, reaffirming the club’s vision of continuing with character-driven individuals.
Moreover, a deep rift exists between the two clubs’ administrations due to transfer-related disputes. According to President Doğan, Galatasaray intervened in the transfer of a player identified and formally agreed upon by Trabzonspor’s scouting committee by offering a higher fee. Despite prior warnings from Trabzonspor’s management that such actions would damage inter-club relations, Galatasaray proceeded with the transfer, leading Trabzonspor to suspend its friendly relations with the Istanbul club.
Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk, in his fourth season at the helm, has not lost any of the nine official matches against Trabzonspor (seven Süper Lig, one Turkish Cup, one Süper Cup), securing seven wins and two draws. Similarly, Galatasaray’s dominance over teams managed by current Trabzonspor head coach Fatih Tekke is notable: in seven league matches against Trabzonspor, Alanyaspor and İstanbulspor — all clubs previously managed by Tekke — Galatasaray has won six and drawn one. Despite these statistics, Trabzonspor President Ertuğrul Doğan declared that Fatih Tekke is fully aligned with the club’s overall vision and receives complete backing for his courage in fielding young players.
Analysts in the sports media have emphasized the high stakes of this match. Former footballer Metin Tekin noted that Galatasaray holds a clear advantage in squad quality but stressed that an away match in Trabzon has historically always presented a genuine hostile atmosphere for Istanbul clubs. Tekin highlighted the four-point gap between the teams, stating that this match could serve as a decisive turning point in the league title race and that a potential Trabzonspor victory could completely alter the balance of the championship contest.
In the 28th week of the Trendyol Süper Lig, league leaders Galatasaray and third-placed Trabzonspor will face each other in a direct championship-deciding derby at Papara Park on Saturday, 4 April 2026 at 20:00. In the match to be officiated by Cihan Aydın, visiting team Galatasaray will be without Osimhen and Sane due to injury and suspension, while former Trabzonspor captain Uğurcan Çakır will face his former club for the first time in his career in Trabzon. Trabzonspor, who have gone 930 days without a win against Istanbul’s three major teams at home, aim to end this poor run, while Galatasaray, having bid farewell to European competitions and fully focused on the league, seek to maintain their nine-match unbeaten streak against their opponent and preserve their four-point lead at the top.
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April 3, 2026
General Information and Referee Appointment
April 3, 2026
Current Standings and Form Graphs of the Teams
April 3, 2026
Historical Rivalry and Statistical Data
April 3, 2026
Squad Status and Absent Players
April 3, 2026
Head Coaches’ Performance Statistics and Assessments
April 6, 2026
General Information and Referee Assignment for the Match
April 6, 2026
Current Standings and Form Charts of the Teams
April 6, 2026
Historical Rivalry and Statistical Data
April 6, 2026
Squad Status and Missing Players
April 6, 2026
Head Coaches’ Performance Statistics and Assessments