Nabil Dirar

A strong Beşiktaş will seek a first away win since 2005 against Fenerbahçe, another title challenger that suffered a bad start to the season, in the first derby game of the year on Sept. 23. 

A goal in the dying minutes gave last season's runner-up Başakşehir its first-ever league victory at Fenerbahçe on Sept. 9, while defending champion Beşiktaş also won in the Turkish Super League.

Başakşehir went ahead as early as the second minute of the game when Joseph Attamah headed in a ball crossed by veteran midfielder Emre Belözoğlu from the corner kick spot.

A renewed Fenerbahçe, the Istanbul side which failed to impress fans in both the league opening and an UEFA Europa League playoff game, will take on an assertive Trabzonspor on Aug. 20 in the highlight game of the second league week. 

The Turkish Super League begins on Aug. 11, when last season's dark horse Medipol Başakşehir hosts Bursaspor at home, as fans of all sides feel excited to see world stars who made their way to Turkey on millions of euros of contracts.

Başakşehir, which ended last season in second place behind champion Beşiktaş, signed a whopping 10 players and parted ways with nine.

Fenerbahçe eliminated Sturm Graz 3-2 on aggregate in the two sides' UEFA Europa League third qualifying round match in Istanbul on Aug. 3.    
   
The Istanbul club managed to draw 1-1 at Şükrü Saraçoğlu Stadium, moving on to the playoff round in the second-tier European competition.