Konyaspor come into this Super Lig opener with a spring in their step after a 2-0 friendly win over Al Dhafra at the end of July. Clean sheet, two goals, momentum building. But the last competitive outing we have on record was that 2-1 loss at Kayserispor, where they had 51% possession and three shots on target — decent control, not enough edge. Eren Yagmur got the goal, so there's a spark in attack. Home fans at Konya Büyükşehir Belediye Stadyumu will expect more of the same: patient build-up, quick transitions, and a crowd that can suck the ball into the net.

Rizespor, meanwhile, edged Pyramids 2-1 in their most recent friendly — a win, but a nervy one. Their last competitive game was a 2-2 draw at home to Beşiktaş, which tells you they can hang with the big boys but also drop points from winning positions. The Karadeniz Atmacası finished eighth last season, ten wins, thirteen defeats, and won just one of their final five games. That's a team that fades late. Pre-season has been mixed: a 3-0 win over Dinamo Batumi, a goalless stalemate with Erzurumspor, and that narrow friendly win. They're not exactly purring.

Both sides are feeling their way into the new campaign, but Konyaspor look sharper. They've kept a clean sheet, they've scored twice, and they're at home. Rizespor's away form is a concern — they've been inconsistent on the road, and this is a long trip to central Anatolia. Momentum is green and white.