Thursday’s conflict at Yeni Sakarya Atatürk Stadium will resolve the ultimate workforce to ascend to Türkiye’s Süper Lig, as Fatih Karagümrük face off towards Bandırmaspor within the Solwie Energy playoff ultimate.
Starting the season beneath Şenol Can, Fatih Karagümrük underwent managerial shifts, with David Sassarini and Orhan Ak additionally taking the helm earlier than Onur Can Korkmaz assumed cost.
Despite a robust marketing campaign, the Istanbul aspect completed third with 66 factors, simply behind Gençlerbirliği.
Thanks to league guidelines, Fatih Karagümrük superior straight to the playoff ultimate, searching for a second promotion by way of this route.
Their historical past in promotion playoffs features a memorable 2019-2020 overcome Adana Demirspor on penalties, beneath Şenol Can’s steerage. The membership’s first Süper Lig promotion dates again to 1982-83 beneath coach Ilie Datcu.
Bandırmaspor, considered one of solely three groups within the league to maintain their supervisor, entered the season beneath Mustafa Gürsel’s regular management.
The Balıkesir-based aspect clinched fifth place with 64 factors and a stable purpose distinction.
Their playoff journey featured gritty wins over Erzurumspor FK and Geosis Boluspor, setting the stage for his or her first-ever Süper Lig promotion bid.
Notably, Bandırmaspor got here shut in 2021-22 however fell quick to İstanbulspor within the ultimate. A profitable promotion this 12 months would mark Balıkesir’s second consultant in Türkiye’s prime flight after Balıkesirspor.
Historic rivalry and season head-to-head
This ultimate marks the fifteenth skilled assembly between these groups.
Bandırmaspor holds an edge with eight wins, whereas Fatih Karagümrük has gained three; three matches led to attracts.
Bandırmaspor additionally leads in objectives, netting 19 to Fatih Karagümrük’s 9.
This season alone, Bandırmaspor defeated Karagümrük twice – 1-0 and 2-1 – including gasoline to their confidence heading into the ultimate.
Key gamers
Fatih Karagümrük’s sharp shooter Wesley Moraes shares the league’s golden boot honors with Kocaelispor’s Oğulcan Çağlayan, every tallying 21 objectives. Moraes will probably be their point of interest on this winner-takes-all showdown.
Bandırmaspor’s talisman is veteran striker Marco Paixao, a four-time 1. Lig’s prime scorer with 17 objectives this season. Paixao, 40, additionally shone within the playoffs, scoring twice towards Geosis Boluspor.
The Portuguese striker famously scored a last-minute purpose within the 2020-21 playoff ultimate to carry Altay again to the Süper Lig after 18 years.
For the primary time, Sakarya hosts the 1. Lig playoff ultimate, the eleventh metropolis to stage the occasion. The ultimate has beforehand taken place in Ankara (8 instances), Istanbul (6), Antalya (4), Konya (3), and several other others.
Playoff legacy
The playoff system has been a gateway to promotion for 30 seasons, elevating 23 groups to the Süper Lig. Kasımpaşa leads with three promotions, adopted by Antalyaspor, Eskişehirspor, Göztepe, Konyaspor, and Sakaryaspor with two every.
Clubs like Fatih Karagümrük, Adana Demirspor, and İstanbulspor have additionally clinched one promotion apiece via this method.
Back in 1993-94, the league noticed two groups promoted via playoffs: Adana Demirspor and Antalyaspor.
Source: www.dailysabah.com