Rizespor vs. Besiktas: Preview, Head‑to‑Head, Tips, and Ndidi’s Goal for a Solid Finish Before the Super Lig Season

The final weekend of the Trendyol Super Lig season sees Caykur Rizespor host Besiktas at the Caykur Didi Stadium in Rize on Friday, May 15, 2026. The match marks the closing chapter of a captivating campaign in Turkey’s top flight.

Besiktas, currently fourth in the table with 59 points from 33 matches, have already secured a UEFA Conference League berth for next season. Rizespor, positioned eighth with 40 points, face no relegation threat, making this a contest driven by pride rather than pressure.

For Nigerian supporters, the fixture carries additional significance. Ibrahim Olawoyin, the 28‑year‑old Super Eagles attacking midfielder who joined Rizespor in January 2023, will face his international teammate Wilfried Ndidi, the former Leicester City captain now anchoring Besiktas’s midfield in his first season in Istanbul.

Olawoyin has become a fan favourite at the Caykur Didi. After overcoming an early injury, he made 23 league appearances this season, scoring two goals and providing an assist. His 100th appearance for the club came in December’s 3‑0 win over Eyupspor, a milestone he celebrated on social media. His enthusiasm and loyalty make him central to Rizespor’s attacking strategy heading into the final match.

Ndidi has been a revelation for Besiktas since the club signed him from Leicester City last summer. The 29‑year‑old defensive midfielder, who spent most of a decade in the Premier League, has added composure and game reading to Besiktas’s engine room. He has started 22 games in all competitions, scoring two goals and delivering an assist while primarily operating in a screening role.

A muscle injury sidelined Ndidi for a brief period in April, but he returned to full training around the time of the club’s clash with Antalyaspor and is expected to be available for this weekend’s match.

Match Preview: Rizespor vs Besiktas

Although the league positions suggest a dead rubber, both clubs have distinct motivations as the season concludes.

Besiktas have already secured fourth place, guaranteeing a spot in next season’s UEFA Conference League. Manager Sergen Yalcin, who returned to the club in August 2025 after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal, aims to finish the campaign on a high note before a major summer overhaul.

Besiktas’ attack has been led since January by El Bilal Touré, the Malian striker on loan from Atalanta who replaced Tammy Abraham after his move to Aston Villa. Touré has scored five league goals, while Orkun Kökçü has contributed seven goals and consistent creativity across 26 league appearances. Portuguese forward Rafa Silva has also been a regular, netting five goals in 11 league games.

The Black Eagles have accumulated 59 points from 17 wins, eight draws, and eight defeats, scoring 57 goals and conceding 38. Their performance is respectable for a club of Besiktas’s stature, though a 20‑point gap remains to the top three, with Galatasaray leading the table with 77 points and Fenerbahce and Trabzonspor occupying the two European spots above them.

Yalcin, who returned for a second managerial stint in August 2025, has stabilised a squad that had experienced several coaching changes. He has emphasized closing the gap to the top three and plans to bring new quality to the squad in the summer window.

Rizespor’s season, while mid‑table, has featured notable moments. The club sits eighth with 40 points from 10 wins, 10 draws, and 13 losses, having scored 44 goals and conceded 50. Manager Recep Ucar, who took charge in December 2025, has steadied the team after a turbulent start under previous coaching staff.

Rizespor’s home form has been solid, and their attack, led by striker Ali Sowe, has shown the ability to challenge stronger defenses on occasion. The team’s creative engine has been Albanian midfielder Qazim Laci, who leads the squad with seven league goals and nine assists, earning a campaign‑high rating of 7.27.

Sowe remains a consistent threat, having scored six league goals, while Romanian winger Valentin Mihaila has added five more, giving Rizespor genuine cutting edge on the flanks.

Rizespor’s home form this season has been reasonable, and facing a Besiktas side with quality across the pitch will test their defensive resilience at a venue that holds just under 15,000 supporters.

Head‑to‑Head: Rizespor vs Besiktas

The history between the two sides is stark for Rizespor supporters.