The Turkish Cup, also known as the Türkiye Kupasi, is one of two domestic cup competitions in the country – the other being the Super Cup.
It carries huge significance – historically and in the context of modern-day football, with the winner qualifying for the money-making UEFA Europa League play-off rounds. They also take on the Süper Lig champions in the Turkish Cup.
It’s one of the most anticipated events on the Turkish football calendar – find out all the details of the upcoming semi-finals below.
Fixture Details – Date, Kick-off Time, and Venue
The semi-final fixtures have been decided – they are as follows:
- Trabzonspor vs Fatih Karagümrük S.K
- MKE Ankaragücü vs Beşiktaş
The dates, times, and venues are yet to be confirmed – but they are expected to be around the beginning of May.
Quarter-finals Recap – Setting the Stage
The Türkiye Kupasi quarter-finals were packed with drama – including a fair share of upsets.
Here’s a brief recap:
Galatasaray 0-2 Fatih Karagümrük S.K
Goals from Marcos Vinicius Amaral Alves and Ryan Mendes put paid to the 18-time Türkiye Kupasi champions in what was a clinical and organised display.
The first goal came in the sixth minute following a quick counter-attack, while a superb 25-yard strike from Mendes in the 84th minute sealed the win.
The result represents one of the biggest cupsets of this year’s competition so far.
Beşiktaş 2-0 Konyaspor
Salih Uçan and Cenk Tosun’s goals were enough for 10-time winners Beşiktaş to continue their quest for an 11th Türkiye Kupasi title.
Konyaspor’s keeper Deniz Ertaş failed to hold a relatively straightforward long-range effort from Ernest Muçi, leaving Uçan with a tap-in to open the scoring in the first half. A well-directed header by Tosun from a corner doubled the lead in the 58th minute.
Trabzonspor 1-0 İstanbul Başakşehir F.K.
A fine right-footed finish from Bosnian winger Edin Višća was enough to get Trabzonspor over the line.
It continues a good run of form for the official socios.com partners, who are also up to third in the league.
MKE Ankaragücü 3-0 Fenerbahçe SK
Three goals from Ali Kaan Güneren, Anastasios Chatzigiovannis, and Garry Rodrigues saw the relegation-threatened Ankaragücü comfortably beat league title contenders Fenerbahçe in one of the shock results of the quarter-finals.
Team Form – Recent Performances
Given some of the surprise results in the quarter-finals, it’s tricky to call the two that advance to the final, especially now two of the favourites in Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe have been eliminated.
Of the four hopefuls, it would make sense to side with a team that’s been there and done it. Beşiktaş are the team that’s won this title the second-most amount of times and know how to get the job done.
However, Trabzonspor could also be worth a second look – they are one of the Super Lig’s form teams and are pushing hard for a European place this year. In Paul Onuachu, they have a forward who knows where the net is, and he could spearhead their push for glory this year.
The two other teams, Fatih Karagümrük S.K and MKE Ankaragücü are the two outsiders. It’s difficult to see how they could make it through.
Tactical Analysis – Strategies Unveiled
Who are the coaches, and how do they set up their teams? We examine below:
Beşiktaş
Coach: Fernando Santos
Tactical Style: Pragmatic, rigid, disciplined
A world-renowned coach who once helped Portugal to the European Championship, Santos knows how to get results. For example, in that European Championship run, Portugal didn’t win a game in 90 minutes until the semi-final.
At Besiktas, he plays a 4-1-4-1 formation, focusing on the fast and dynamic play from the wingers. He has only been at the club since the start of January 2024, and is still attempting to implement his vision.
Trabzonspor
Coach: Abdullah Avcı
Tactical Style: Controlled, possession-based, defensive
Sometimes referred to as the Turkish Pep Guardiola due to their similar coaching style, Avcı puts a lot of emphasis on bringing through youthful talent and integrating them into a passing-carousel style system.
His teams recycle the ball with efficiency and purpose and score plenty of goals as a result. Under Avcı, the team plays in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
MKE Ankaragücü
Coach: Emre Belözoğlu
Tactical Style: Defensive, organised
To lovers of Premier League football, Emre’s name should ring a bell – he’s played with some of the biggest teams in football, ,including Inter Milan, Newcastle United, and Fenerbahçe.
He has a footballing brain – his tactical acumen and ability to read the game on the pitch has translated seamlessly into his managerial role.
A firm believer in playing attacking, possession-based football, he values technical ability and encourages his players to take risks and play with creativity on the pitch.
Fatih Karagümrük S.K
Coach: Tolunay Kafkas
Tactical Style: Defensive, organised
Fatih Kafkas is known for his calm and composed demeanour on the sidelines, but don’t let that fool you – he does not suffer fools and runs a tight ship.
He has had several stints at some of Turkey’s most famous clubs, including Trabzonspor, Karabükspor, and Kayserispor.
Expect intensity and high pressing, with his team constantly looking to create scoring opportunities.
Key Players – Impactful Figures on the Pitch
- Beşiktaş: Milot Rashica, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Arthur Masuaku
- Trabzonspor: Thomas Meunier, Trezuguet, and Nicolas Pépé
- MKE Ankaragücü: Pedrinho, Ali Sowe, Riccardo Saponara
- Fatih Karagümrük S.K: Ryan Mendes, Nazım Sangaré, and Valentin Eysseric
Match Previews – Anticipating the Action
Trabzonspor vs Fatih Karagümrük S.K
They have already upset the odds once – can Fatih Karagümrük S.K do so again?
It would need to be a flawless performance against Trabzonspor, who have had a solid season in the Super Lig this season and have signed some good players in Meunier and Pépé. Ex-Southampton striker Onuachu is also in rich form.
This one should be a comfortable victory for the Trabzon-based football club.
MKE Ankaragücü vs Beşiktaş
There is no doubt that Beşiktaş are now the favourites in the competition, and they should have enough to see off MKE Ankaragücü.
At the time of writing, they had lost just one of their previous ten games against Ankaragücü in all competitions. They have been in good form recently. Meanwhile, Ankaragücü is mired deep in a relegation battle.
The form book suggests a win for Beşiktaş – we expect them to come out on top.
Socios.com Integration – Enhancing Fan Engagement
One of the teams participating in the semi-finals – Trabzonspor – has a burgeoning relationship with Socios.com. This leading blockchain-based fan engagement platform allows football fans to engage with their favorite teams through the use of digital tokens.
