2023-24 SEASON REVIEW

VIOLENCE OVERSHADOWS TURKISH TITLE RACE

- Nick Bidwell, Samindra Kunti, Juraj Vrdoljak, Vladimir Novak, Emanuele Giulianelli

A rock-solid backline proved the key building block as Galatasaray successfully defended their Super Lig title. In 38 top-flight fixtures, the Cimbom only conceded 26 goals, with long-serving Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera amassing a remarkable 17 clean sheets.

Gala, under the astute stewardship of head coach Okan Buruk, fully deserved to claim their 24th league crown. Led by Argentine striker Mauro Icardi, who scooped the Golden Boot with 25 goals, they set new standards at the top of the table, finishing with a record-breaking points tally of 102, winning 33 games (another Turkish top-flight record), and especially productive in the second half of the season, winning 17 games in a row between January and May – a record that has every chance of standing the test of time.

Despite such impressive numbers, Galatasaray did suffer a scare in the penultimate round of fixtures, losing 1-0 on their own patch to closest rivals Fenerbahce in a hot-tempered derby. Suddenly, a six-point lead at the top of the table was reduced to three. But Buruk’s men held firm, eventually sealing the deal with a 3-1 win at lowly Konyaspor.

It is to Fenerbahce’s immense credit that they kept up. Outstanding on their travels, especially in a ten-game winning streak, and only losing once all season, they frustratingly came undone by a number of draws against inferior opponents – though in fairness, their tally of 99 points would usually be more than enough for top spot. League runnersup in each of the past two seasons, it is now ten years since Fener last struck championship gold.