- 1 Samsunspor vs Goztepe : a 3-0 defeat that killed European hopes, and a shot at payback on day one
- 2 Samsunspor : eight new signings and a pre-season that never settled
- 3 Goztepe : six friendlies, six unbeaten
- 4 Super Lig prediction Samsunspor vs Goztepe
- 5 First, a note on our free predictions
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your role
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the visuals…
Samsunspor vs Goztepe : a 3-0 defeat that killed European hopes, and a shot at payback on day one 
The last time these two met, Samsunspor won 3-0 at home. That result shut Goztepe out of Europe on the final day of last season.
Three months on, the fixture list has thrown them together again in the same place. Turkish football kicks off again on Monday night at the Yeni 19 Mayis Stadyumu, with kick-off at 20:30.
This is the final game of the opening round in the Super Lig and it will be shown on beIN Sports. Kadir Saglam has been appointed as referee.
Both clubs come into this after seasons that were almost identical. Goztepe finished sixth on 55 points, Samsunspor seventh on 51.
Four points and one place split them, but the damage was real: the Izmir side missed out on Europe, and so did the Black Sea club.
Thorsten Fink and Stanimir Stoilov are treating this as the first proper check on their summer work. Both managers have kept their jobs.
The two clubs have gone about recruitment in very different ways. Samsunspor have piled in the signings, while Goztepe moved early and targeted specific gaps.
The clearest contrast shows up in pre-season. Goztepe have not lost a game, while Samsunspor have bounced between impressive and downright ugly.
Samsunspor : eight new signings and a pre-season that never settled 
Eight new players have arrived in Samsun this summer. Fink is happy to back that level of turnover: with no European football this season, the club can put everything into the league.
The target is clear, with a top-five finish in sight. They missed continental qualification by a whisker last year.
Among the arrivals are striker Fatih Kaya, whose grandmother lives in Samsun, plus Turkey internationals Samed Onur and Bilal Bayazit. More signings could still come before the window shuts.
The build-up has done little to answer the big questions. They opened with a defeat to Dunkerque, drew against Belgian side RAAL La Louviere, then followed up with two encouraging 2-1 wins over AEK Athens and Westerlo.
The final test hurt: a 3-0 defeat to Kasimpasa. It is not exactly the kind of message you want heading into a new season.
Fink is expected to stick with a back three, a system he uses to make up for the lack of natural width in his squad. Joe Mendes and Logi Tomasson play key roles in that set-up.
The Turkish press reports several absentees before the opener, including Tanguy Coulibaly, Elayis Tavsan and Igor Drapinski. New signing Eliot Watt is suspended for the first round.
Bedirhan Cetin is also being monitored after a knock in training during the off-season. That leaves the German coach with limited room to manoeuvre.
The club reached the Europa League last 16 last season, and that run took a toll on their league form. Without Europe this year, the schedule looks far lighter.
Fink will have a full week between matches to work. That is the big selling point of the project in Samsun.
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Goztepe : six friendlies, six unbeaten 
Goztepe have not lost once this summer. The run began with a 2-0 win over Croatian side Gorica.
They then beat LNZ Cherkasy, Al Dhafra, Zorya Luhansk and Trabzonspor. Beating the Black Sea club in a friendly gives you a decent read on where Izmir’s side are at.
Stanimir Stoilov has become a steady hand in Izmir. The club are coming off the two best seasons in their modern history.
Europe is no longer a surprise bonus. It is the target. Recruitment was done early so the new faces could bed in before the season started.
Georgian keeper Luka Gugeshashvili, signed from PAOK after Mateusz Lis left, has nailed down the number one spot in pre-season. Up front, Sinclair Armstrong and Andre Henrique give Stoilov more attacking options.
He has also kept faith with a back three despite the turnover in the squad. Allan Godoi and Malcom Bokele are the key anchors.
Arda Okan Kurtulan and Amine Cherni will provide width from the wing-back spots. That is where Goztepe create most of their damage.
Three players are out: Nevzat Uzel, Ibrahim Sabra and Furkan Bayir. New signing Noah Sonko Sundberg remains a doubt.
Last season’s 55 points were their best recent return. Europe slipped away on the final day.
This early transfer business is designed to stop that happening again. Stoilov starts the new campaign with a group that already looks settled.
Expected Samsunspor line-up: Kocuk ; Mendes, Cift, Diabate, Tomasson ; Yuksel, Assoumou, Makoumbou ; Sousa, Kilinc ; Marius
Expected Goztepe line-up: Gugeshashvili ; Altikardes, Allan Godoi, Bokele ; Kurtulan, Matos, Miroshi, Cherni ; Antunes ; Andre Henrique, Janderson
Super Lig prediction Samsunspor vs Goztepe
Our pick : Both teams to score
Goztepe have scored in all six of their pre-season games without losing, and they have added two more forwards to deepen the attacking unit. Stoilov’s side should find a way through.
Samsunspor, meanwhile, are at home with a far more attacking set-up than last season and eight new arrivals to bed in. The 3-0 win in May came on this same pitch.
Both defences arrive weakened: three out and one doubt for Goztepe, several injuries and a suspension for Samsunspor. That kind of setup rarely leads to a cagey game.
Both teams should score on Monday night in Samsun. A draw looks the most likely result, but the goals angle offers the better value.
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