Preview: Kayserispor vs Besiktas - prediction, team news, lineups

Kayserispor and Besiktas will aim to kick off their 2025-26 Turkish Super Lig campaign on a high when they face off at the Kayseri Stadium on Saturday.

The Anatolian Star finished 13th last season with 45 points, just eight clear of the relegation zone, while the Black Eagles secured European football once again.

Match preview

Kayserispor turned to Sergej Jakirovic midway through last season when they were stuck in 16th place and staring at relegation, and the Bosnian manager worked wonders, leading them to safety with a strong finish to the campaign.

However, he departed by mutual consent this summer to take the reins at English Championship side Hull City, with the Turkish side reportedly receiving compensation.

Former Samsunspor boss Markus Gisdol has since taken over and overseen a mixed pre-season, winning two of three friendly games before losing their final warm-up match to Alanyaspor.

His first official test in charge comes against a side Kayserispor have not beaten in any competition since 2022, and not in the league since July 2020.

That victory, their only home league win over Besiktas since 2013, will offer some belief, but the odds are stacked against them in this fixture.

Besiktas, meanwhile, already have competitive minutes under their belt thanks to European qualifiers and will hope to use their sharpness to their advantage.

After a heavy 6-2 aggregate defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa League, they dropped into the Conference League and responded well with a commanding 4-1 first-leg victory away to St Patrick’s Athletic in the third qualifying round.

Loan signing Tammy Abraham made an instant impact, scoring a first-half hat-trick in that match, a welcome sign for manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who is tasked with improving an attack that registered under 60 goals in the league last term.

With 16 league titles to their name, Besiktas will be under pressure to mount a serious title push this season, having last lifted the trophy in 2020-21.

Kayserispor Turkish Super Lig form:

Kayserispor form (all competitions):

Besiktas Turkish Super Lig form:

Besiktas form (all competitions):

Team News

Kayserispor have had a relatively quiet transfer window, despite the departure of 12 players from last season’s squad, including striker Duckens Nazon, who scored five league goals.

They are expected to field a familiar core, with returning loanees eager to impress under new management.

Besiktas, on the other hand, will be without Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as he recovers from a ligament injury.

The Black Eagles have been busy in the market, securing Abraham on loan, completing permanent moves for Felix Uduokhai and Joao Mario, and pulling off the headline signing of Wilfred Ndidi from Leicester City.

Kayserispor possible starting lineup:

Piri; Sazdagi, Hosseini, Kocaman, Carole; Gezek, Celtik, Ozbek; Mane, Sariarslan, Cardoso

Besiktas possible starting lineup:

Gunok; Svensson, Gabriel, Uduokhai, Jurasek; Tiknaz, Kokcu; Rashica, Rafa Silva, Joao Mario; Abraham

We say: Kayserispor 1-3 Besiktas

Besiktas come into this clash as favourites, thanks to their superior squad quality and better head-to-head record, despite Kayserispor relying on home support and defensive organisation,

The visitors’ firepower could prove too much over 90 minutes, and If they find rhythm early, they may control proceedings.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.