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
Although the hosts will be entering into their first-ever top-flight season with enthusiasm, the visitors boast greater experience and proven quality at this level, suggesting that Gaziantep are likely to secure the win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
