LIVE! Galatasaray vs. Kocaelispor in the Süper Lig on beIN SPORTS
Defending champion Galatasaray hosts a Kocaelispor side that has made a surprising start to the season and arrives at RAMS Park with an opportunity to put the league leader to the test.
Okan Buruk’s side has collected 10 points from its opening four league matches, with three wins and one draw. The Lions are also the highest-scoring team in the competition so far, with 12 goals.
However, they come into the match after suffering a significant setback in midweek.
Galatasaray Looks to Respond After the Champions League
Galatasaray suffered a 3-1 defeat against Sporting CP in its most recent Champions League match and must now quickly turn the page and refocus on defending its title in Turkey.
In the Süper Lig, the story has been very different.
Okan Buruk’s side is coming off a 3-2 victory over Başakşehir and continues to boast an impressive home record, having not lost a league match on its own ground since May 2024.
The challenge will be even greater because of several absences.
Victor Osimhen, Mario Lemina, Wilfried Singo, and Günay Güvenç will not be available to face Kocaelispor due to various physical issues.
Even so, the defending champion has the responsibility of protecting the top spot in front of its supporters.
Kocaelispor, One of the Early Surprises of the Season
On the other side is a Kocaelispor team that has started the season much better than expected.
The team coached by Selçuk İnan has nine points after four matchdays and enters the game in third place, just one point behind Galatasaray.
After losing 2-0 to Başakşehir in its season opener, the İzmit side responded with three consecutive victories: 2-0 against Amedspor, 2-1 over Konyaspor, and 1-0 against Samsunspor.
There is also a recent meeting that neither side is likely to forget.
Last season, Galatasaray failed to defeat Kocaelispor in either of their two Süper Lig meetings. The Green-Blacks earned a 1-0 victory in November 2025, while the match played at RAMS Park in April ended in a 1-1 draw.
Now, Kocaelispor returns to Istanbul with an opportunity to prove that its impressive start to the season is no coincidence.
A Direct Battle Near the Top of the Süper Lig
Although the season has only reached Matchday 5, this game already has plenty at stake.
Galatasaray wants to remain at the top of the standings and regain momentum following its European defeat.
Kocaelispor, meanwhile, can move above the defending champion in the table with another victory.
The stage will be RAMS Park, where the Lions have turned home-field advantage into one of their greatest strengths in recent years.
Atilla Karaoğlan will be the referee for the match.
Everything is set in Istanbul for a clash between two of the best-performing teams at the start of the 2026-27 Süper Lig season.
Don’t miss the match between Galatasaray and Kocaelispor on beIN SPORTS.
Match: Galatasaray vs. Kocaelispor
Competition: 2026-27 Süper Lig
Matchday: 5
Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026
Time: 8:00 p.m. Turkey / 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT
Stadium: RAMS Park, Istanbul
