Göztepe's European dreams came to an end as they suffered a 3-0 defeat to Samsunspor in the final match of the Süper Lig 2025-2026 season. The yellow and red team, led by coach Stanimir Stoilov, had been fighting for a top 5 finish to secure a spot in the UEFA Conference League. However, their unexpected loss in Samsun dashed those hopes.

Basaksehir FK, another team vying for the 5th place, secured their position by defeating Gaziantep FK 2-1. This result pushed them to 57 points and the 5th spot. The 5th place team in the Süper Lig earns a European spot, and this year, Trabzonspor, currently in 3rd place, will determine the final European qualifier. If Trabzonspor wins the Turkish Cup final against Konyaspor, Basaksehir will secure their spot in the UEFA Conference League.

Göztepe finished the season in 6th place with 55 points. Over the past two seasons, they have consistently fought for a top 5 finish, achieving 14 wins, 13 draws, and 7 losses in 34 matches. They scored 42 goals while conceding 32.

STOILOV: We Worked Hard, but It Wasn’t Enough

Coach Stanimir Stoilov expressed his disappointment with the loss, stating, "The match had two distinct parts: before and after the red card. We managed to get 5 positions while Samsunspor only got 2 before the red card. We couldn't score, and Samsunspor capitalized on their opportunities. This season was better than last in terms of points. We worked hard towards our European goal, but unfortunately, we couldn't achieve it. We need to analyze correctly and prepare for the next season. Three matches with late goals against us had a significant impact. We must strategize better for next season."