Football: Turkish Super Lig gets underway Friday

By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun

ANKARA (AA) - Top flight football returns to Turkey later Friday as last season’s runners-up Basaksehir face Bursaspor in Istanbul.

Last season’s champions Besiktas are favorites to retain the title having reinforced their squad with a number of high profile signings including Pepe from Real Madrid and Valencia’s Alvaro Negredo.

Basaksehir will host Bursaspor having also made a number of key buys, such as Eljero Elia from Feyenoord and Gael Clichy from Manchester City.

Fenerbahce, who finished third last season, have added their ex-keeper Volkan Demirel and Olympique Lyon’s Mathieu Valbeuna, among others.

The other member of Istanbul’s Big Three, Galatasaray, have lost big names such as Lukas Podolski and Wesley Sneijder but signed Maicon, Batefimbi Gomis and Younes Belhanda.

Week 1 schedule (all times local):

Friday

9.45 p.m. Medipol Basaksehir - Bursaspor

Saturday

8.00 p.m. Genclerbirligi - Kardemir Karabukspor

8.00 p.m Akhisar Belediyespor - Sivasspor

9.45 p.m. Alanyaspor - Kasimpasa

9.45 p.m. Goztepe - Fenerbahce

Sunday

8.00 p.m Yeni Malatyaspor - Osmanlispor

8.00 p.m Trabzonspor - Atiker Konyaspor

9.45 p.m. Besiktas – Antalyaspor

Monday

9.45 p.m. Galatasaray - Kayserispor