Galatasaray and Trabzonspor are set to battle it out in the Turkish Cup final at Gaziantep Stadium on Wednesday (today).
Attention will be firmly fixed on Victor Osimhen, who aims to clinch his first major silverware with the Lions.
The 26-year-old forward, listed in Galatasaray’s squad for the showdown, is expected to spearhead the attack.
Head coach Okan Buruk will rely heavily on the striker’s firepower to get the job done once more.
So far in the Turkish Cup this campaign, Osimhen has netted three times and provided one assist.
With the Turkish Super Lig title within their grasp, Galatasaray are now pushing to complete a domestic double.
The Yellow and Reds last lifted the Turkish Cup trophy during the 2018/19 season.
Over the years, this esteemed tournament has featured a balanced mix of 31 single-leg and 31 two-legged finals, with the 2023–2024 edition once again held under the sponsorship of Ziraat Bankası.
The competition’s rich history is filled with diverse and dramatic conclusions, ranging from walkovers and nail-biting penalty shootouts to extra-time drama and unexpected twists in the final matches.
Walkover and Draw-Decided Triumphs
A remarkable walkover was recorded in the 1963–1964 season after Galatasaray and Altay played out a goalless draw in the first leg. Altay failed to appear for the second leg, prompting the Turkish Football Federation to hand Galatasaray a 3-0 win and award them the cup.
In the 1966–1967 final, Altay and Göztepe battled to a 2-2 stalemate. With no further play to determine the winner, the champion was decided by a draw, marking the first time in Turkish Cup history the title was settled in such a manner.
Thrills Beyond 90 Minutes
Extra time has played a decisive role in the outcome of the Turkish Cup final on eight occasions.
Among the standout moments was Göztepe’s 1968–1969 victory over Galatasaray (1-0, 1-1 on aggregate) and Trabzonspor’s 2-0 win against Beşiktaş in the 1983–1984 season.
Other unforgettable extra-time battles include Galatasaray’s 3-1 triumph over MKE Ankaragücü in 1990–1991 and Sivasspor’s thrilling 3-2 success against Kayserispor in the 2021–2022 final.
In the 1995–1996 edition, Galatasaray entered the second leg with a 1-0 advantage over Fenerbahçe and went on to secure the title with a 2-1 win after extra time.
Deciders from the Spot
Penalty shootouts have settled the Turkish Cup final on six different occasions, adding high drama to the competition’s legacy.
In 1975–1976, Galatasaray edged past Trabzonspor with a 5-4 shootout win, while Beşiktaş got the better of Galatasaray 5-3 in the 1997–1998 final.
The 2000–2001 edition saw Gençlerbirliği clinch victory over Fenerbahçe with a 6-3 result on penalties.
One of the most unforgettable shootouts came in 2007–2008, when Kayserispor outlasted Gençlerbirliği 11-10 in a nerve-wracking contest.
Beşiktaş again triumphed from the spot in 2010–2011, defeating İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor 4-3.
Atiker Konyaspor claimed the title in 2016–2017 after a goalless draw, sealing a 4-1 penalty win over Medipol Başakşehir.