The Turkish Super Lig continues to heat up as the race for European qualification intensifies. Third-placed Sampunsor suffered their fourth consecutive defeat yesterday, falling 1-0 to Alanyaspor in a disappointing outing that has cast serious doubts over their chances of finishing in a Europa League qualifying position.
Sampunsor’s last victory came against Adana Demirspor, followed by a hard-fought draw against title contenders Fenerbahçe. Since then, the team has failed to pick up a single point. With only six matches remaining for most teams, the pressure is mounting. Sampunsor currently sit on 51 points, just one ahead of fourth-placed Eyüpspor, who are lurking closely and eager to pounce.
Unlike the English Premier League, where four Champions League spots are typically up for grabs, the Turkish Super Lig offers a more limited European allocation. Only two teams qualify for the UEFA Champions League (the league winner and runner-up), while the third-placed team secures a Europa League ticket, and fourth place earns a spot in the UEFA Conference League.
For Eyüpspor, finishing fourth would still be a historic achievement, but the club has set its sights higher, aiming for the more prestigious Europa League. However, climbing to first or second place is now mathematically impossible, with only 18 points left to play for. This makes overtaking Sampunsor for third place their most realistic target.
However, Eyüpspor’s path is anything but easy. They are scheduled to face league leaders Galatasaray next week in what promises to be a crucial, high-stakes encounter. Galatasaray—on course to win their third consecutive league title—need just three wins and a draw from their remaining matches to clinch the championship. With fierce rivals Fenerbahçe still hot on their heels, Galatasaray will be highly motivated to avoid any slip-ups—meaning Eyüpspor must be at their absolute best.
Interestingly, Eyüpspor managed to snatch a draw in their last meeting with Galatasaray. But that was before the arrivals of Mario Lemina and Eren Elmalı, who have since become vital components in Galatasaray’s midfield and defense, respectively. Breaking through that fortified setup will be a daunting task.
Also, the structure of the Turkish Super Lig means that not all teams have played the same number of matches. Sampunsor is one of those teams—they’ve played 31 games, meaning they have five matches remaining and a maximum of 15 points still up for grabs.
Meanwhile, Sampunsor will be desperate to halt their losing streak and return to winning ways in their upcoming match against Bodrumspor. A win is non-negotiable if they are to keep their Europa League hopes alive. Any further slip-ups could see them relinquish third place, opening the door for Eyüpspor to move ahead.
As the season nears its climax, every point becomes critical. The battle between Sampunsor and Eyüpspor for that third spot is shaping up to be one of the most thrilling subplots of the Turkish Super Lig’s final weeks. Football fans will be watching closely to see which side holds their nerve and punches theirr ticket to Europe.
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