Samsunspor begin their Turkish Super Lig season against 16-time champions Besiktas in Sunday's match at the Samsun 19 Mayis Stadium.
The hosts ended 13th on their return to the big time, and they hope to avoid last season's slow start against a side keen to find levels of their previous title-winning campaign from three years back.
Match preview
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An 11-year wait to return to the top division was going awry until Markus Gisdol replaced Huseyin Eroglu at the end of September 2023 with the new boys bottom in the standings.
Indeed, the German boss turned the tide for the Samsun-based club to end 13th in the table, four spots ahead of relegated Ankaragucu in 17th.
Still, being three points above the first relegated side means their top-flight return could have ended differently, and they seek to start this term better than how they finished the 2023-24 season.
Samsunspor claimed one victory in their final eight league matches, with one point from the last available nine leaving them facing a nervy concluding weeks.
As they welcome Besiktas to the 19 Mayis Stadium on Sunday, supporters will remember their side's admirable home record in 23-24 — only four sides bettered Samsunspor's home results — with 35 of their 43 points coming as hosts, and their German boss aims for more of the same this season.
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Besiktas were one of the four teams that notched victories in Samsun in the previous season, securing a 2-1 triumph in November, and they aim to notch consecutive wins in this season's corresponding meeting.
Under the management of Giovanni van Bronckhorst, appointed just over a month ago, the 16-time Turkish champions hope to outdo performances from the previous three campaigns, in which two sixth-place finishes sandwiched third in 2022-23.
Having ended third in consecutive seasons before their 2021 league triumph, the recent drop-off has been concerning for fans of the Black Eagles, who hope their Dutch manager turns the tide in year one.
The travelling support have reason to be optimistic ahead of Van Bronckhorst's first year at the club following a recent encouraging pre-season and a 5-0 hammering of defending league champions Galatasaray in last weekend's Super Cup clash.
That triumph extended Besiktas' winning run to four in competitive and non-competitive matches, and they chase a fifth straight victory on Sunday.
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Team News
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Yunus Emre Cift was sent off in Samsunspor's final game of last season against Karagumruk and the centre-back will serve his ban against Besiktas.
Arbnor Muja could start on the left side of the home team's attack due to Emre Kilinic's absence because of a broken jaw.
Amir Hadziahmetovic is not anticipated to feature for Besiktas as he continues his recovery from the severe knee injury sustained last season.
Emrecan Terzi is also injured and not expected to start while Gelson Fernandes (ankle) and Omar Colley (groin) are touch-and-go for Sunday's gameweek one match.
Ciro Immobile put Gala to the sword with a brace in the Super Cup clash, and the new arrival from Lazio will make his Super Lig debut for the away side, with fellow summer arrival Rafa Silva playing in the hole.
Samsunspor possible starting lineup:
Kocuk; Schindler, Satka, Drongelen, Bola; Tait, Bennasser; Holse, Ntcham, Muja; Mouandilmadji
Besiktas possible starting lineup:
Gunok; Svensson, Paulista, Sanuc, Masuaku; Onana, Musrati; Rashica, Silva, Kilicsoy; Immobile
We say: Samsunspor 1-3 Besiktas
While Samsunspor showed they are a different animal on home soil last season, Besiktas have improved their attack over the summer, with the additions of Immobile and Silva giving the 16-time champions extra firepower over most teams, and the pair should flourish on debut on Sunday.
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