All eyes were on Gaziantep Stadium on the night of January 5, 2026, as Galatasaray and Trabzonspor faced off in a highly anticipated Turkcell Süper Kupa semi-final. The match, broadcast live and free on ATV, promised fireworks, and it certainly delivered—Galatasaray powered past their rivals 4-1, stamping their ticket to the final in emphatic fashion.
This clash marked the 142nd meeting in a storied rivalry stretching back to the 1974-75 season. While the Süper Kupa, in its current format since 2006, had never before featured these two giants, their previous high-stakes encounter was the 1975-76 Cumhurbaşkanlığı Kupası, where Trabzonspor edged out a 2-1 victory. But history weighed heavy on both sides, with Galatasaray boasting 65 wins to Trabzonspor’s 44, alongside 32 draws before this semi-final.
Stepping onto the pitch, Galatasaray were riding high on recent form. They hadn’t lost to Trabzonspor in their last eight official meetings, racking up six wins and two draws, with an impressive tally of 18 goals for and just five against. The pressure was on for Trabzonspor to break this streak, especially with a place in the Süper Kupa final at stake.
Both teams fielded strong but slightly surprising lineups. Galatasaray’s starting eleven featured Uğurcan, Sallai, Sanchez, Abdülkerim, Eren, Sara, İlkay, Sane, Yunus, Barış Alper, and Icardi. Notably absent were Victor Osimhen, Ismail Jakobs, Wilfried Singo, Berkan Kutlu, and Yusuf Demir, due to Africa Cup of Nations duties and other reasons. Trabzonspor, meanwhile, lined up with Onana, Serdar, Batagov, Pina, Ozan, Bouchouari, Jabol, Muçi, Zubkov, Olaigbe, and Augusto. The referee for the night was Cihan Aydın, with Ömer Faruk Turtay overseeing VAR duties.
Galatasaray wasted no time asserting themselves. Early in the first half, they found the breakthrough: a right-wing attack culminated in Sallai’s cross to the far post, where Barış Alper Yılmaz volleyed home to make it 1-0. The stadium erupted—could Trabzonspor respond?
Galatasaray pressed on. Mauro Icardi, always a threat in the box, turned provider with a clever pass to Eren Elmalı, who fired home just inside the area. The lead doubled, and by halftime, Galatasaray were firmly in control at 2-0. Trabzonspor’s defense, led by Onana in goal, faced relentless pressure, with Leroy Sané and Yunus Akgün orchestrating attacks from midfield and the flanks.
After the break, Trabzonspor showed signs of life. Olaigbe’s surging run and low cross from the left found Felipe Augusto, who slotted home to reduce the deficit to 2-1. For a moment, it looked like the Black Sea side might mount a comeback. But Galatasaray, unfazed, restored their cushion with a sweeping counterattack: Barış Alper Yılmaz set up Leroy Sané, who danced through defenders before laying the ball off to Yunus Akgün. Akgün finished with composure, and Galatasaray were up 3-1.
The final blow came courtesy of Mauro Icardi, who capped off a flowing move initiated by Ahmed Kutucu and Kazımcan. Icardi’s clinical finish sealed the 4-1 scoreline, sending Galatasaray fans into jubilation and leaving Trabzonspor with no way back.
After the match, both managers reflected on the contest. Trabzonspor’s Fatih Tekke, speaking before kickoff, reminded his squad, “Every player who wears the Trabzonspor shirt must know: this is our core belief, you play to win every match. No matter the opponent or circumstance, we must leave the field with our heads held high.” Galatasaray’s Okan Buruk, meanwhile, emphasized the club’s ambitions: “Of course, this isn’t the final, but the atmosphere is different. It’s a match to reach the final. Both teams will fight hard. We want to win, that’s why we’re here. Galatasaray’s goal is always to win trophies. I want to thank the fans. Even in the cold, they welcomed us. Hopefully, we’ll give them this joy.”
The individual battles on the pitch were just as compelling as the team contest. For Trabzonspor, Ernest Muçi was a key figure, having scored seven goals and provided two assists in his last five league matches. His creative spark was vital in the absence of Onuachu, and his interplay with Zubkov and Augusto was always a threat. Yet, on this night, Galatasaray’s defense held firm, with Uğurcan and Abdülkerim marshaling the back line.
On the Galatasaray side, Leroy Sané continued his red-hot form. Having scored three goals and assisted twice in his last four league outings, Sané was instrumental again, driving the attack and linking play between midfield and forwards. Alongside him, Yunus Akgün and Barış Alper Yılmaz provided pace and guile, stretching Trabzonspor’s defense and creating scoring opportunities.
This semi-final also added another chapter to the rivalry between the two managers. It was the ninth official meeting between Okan Buruk and Fatih Tekke. Buruk’s teams had dominated the previous encounters, with seven wins and one draw before this match. Over his career, Buruk had faced Trabzonspor 20 times across various clubs, recording nine wins, six draws, and five defeats. Tekke, for his part, had managed against Buruk’s sides with Istanbulspor, Alanyaspor, and now Trabzonspor, seeking to tip the balance in his favor.
For Galatasaray, the victory was not just about reaching the Süper Kupa final—it was about continuing their dominance over Trabzonspor and maintaining momentum in a season filled with high expectations. Their next challenge awaits: a final against the winner of the Fenerbahçe vs. Samsunspor semi-final. If their performance in Gaziantep is any indication, Galatasaray will be favorites, but anything can happen in a one-off final.
As the dust settled in Gaziantep, fans from both sides could reflect on a match that lived up to its billing. Galatasaray’s clinical finishing, tactical discipline, and attacking flair proved decisive, while Trabzonspor’s resilience and flashes of quality showed they remain a force to be reckoned with. With the Süper Kupa final looming, the excitement in Turkish football is only just heating up.
