First crack in the champion's home

The new season in the Süper Lig began with a match between Galatasaray, the champion of the last four years, and Çorumspor, which is competing at this level for the first time in its history.

And from the very first night, it showed us this: This season will not be easy.

Çorumspor managed to take a point from Galatasaray in its first-ever match in Süper Lig history. Moreover, if it weren't for the Galatasaray goal that came in the 90th minute, they might have returned to Çorum with three points.

Just imagine…

In the first Süper Lig match in club history, you are beating the champion of the last four years on their own home turf. The story to be told to grandchildren years later was ready. The players were going to be the heroes of that story.

It didn't happen.

But the value of the point they earned is not to be underestimated.

I don't think there is much to talk about for hours regarding the football side of the match. There are some moments called "controversial positions," but in my opinion, none of them are the kind of debates where lines will be drawn and positions frozen on television screens for days.

In fact, interestingly, we started the first match of the new season in Turkey with a game where the referee's performance was above seven.

That in itself is news!

The new rules that have started to be applied in the Süper Lig for the first time also seem to speed up the game at first glance. Whether it will truly speed up football, or whether we will return to our old habits in a few weeks, time will tell.

What was truly remarkable, however, was in the stands.

Galatasaray fans, who came to watch the reigning champion, started chanting "Management resign" when the team fell behind 2-1.

It's only the first match…

The first 90 minutes of the season haven't even finished yet…

But in reality, this reaction is not just about the Çorumspor match.

Galatasaray fans have been criticizing the management's transfer policy for weeks. Especially after the flashy transfers made by rivals, the question "Why are we waiting?" had begun to be asked more loudly in the yellow-red community.

So much so that even the allegations that the club membership of Galatasaray comedian Şahan Gökbakar could be suspended after his criticisms of the management occupied the social media agenda for days.

In other words, the pot was boiling.

Çorumspor just lifted the lid a little.

I don't think it was a coincidence that Okan Buruk went in front of the cameras after the match and openly stated the areas where transfers need to be made.

Okan Buruk didn't actually just answer the journalists' questions.

He also sent a message to the management.

Because while arch-rivals are talking about the Lukakus, Vlahovics, and Trossards, the fact that there is still no serious movement on the Galatasaray front naturally makes the community uneasy.

Especially if you are the champion of the last four years, the expectations grow even larger.

Once fans get used to being champions, winning is no longer enough. They want the squad to be strengthened, to be ambitious in Europe, and not to fall behind their rivals.

Galatasaray started the league by dropping two points.

But I think the night's more important message than Galatasaray was elsewhere.

Çorumspor showed that this season we won't just be talking about the flashy transfers made by big clubs.

Anatolian teams are also coming to add color to this league with the squads they have built, their courage, and their resistance on the field.

We saw signs of this from the very first match.

On one side, the four-year champion…

On the other, a team taking the field in the Süper Lig for the first time…

And the points shared at the end of 90 minutes.

Isn't that what makes football beautiful anyway?

That no one's jersey, budget, or trophies won in the past guarantee three points before the match starts…

In that case, let's say "Bismillah" (in the name of God) for the new season.

Hoping for an enjoyable, competitive, and most importantly, fair league.

Because football might need transfers, millions of euros, and stars…

But above all, it needs competition.