Which half brings the best from the big four?

Four findings first

Across the first nine games, Fenerbahçe scored fewer second-half goals and generated less xG. Galatasaray scored more and took more shots. Beşiktaş scored more despite creating less xG. Trabzonspor scored less while its xG stayed almost unchanged and shots increased. A simple first-half/second-half classification misses those differences.

Fenerbahçe: lower chance value, not fewer shots

Fenerbahçe’s xG fell from 12.45 to 6.52 and goals from 13 to 10, while shots rose from 73 to 78. Average xG per shot dropped from about 0.17 to 0.08. The distinction is less about attempting fewer shots than taking attempts with lower scoring probabilities.

Goals conceded also fell from five to three. The attacking decline therefore does not mean everything deteriorated after half-time. They scored less and conceded less; interpreting game management requires both sides.

Galatasaray and Beşiktaş improved in different ways

Galatasaray’s goals rose from eight to 11, shots from 93 to 109 and xG from 10.10 to 10.67. More attempts and slightly greater chance production accompanied more goals, but goals conceded also rose from four to eight. A more active second half was an attacking gain rather than an equivalent defensive improvement.

Beşiktaş’s goals rose from eight to 10 while xG fell from 8.89 to 7.64 and shots from 84 to 75. Shots on target increased from 24 to 33. Rather than creating more overall, they converted a lower volume of attempts and xG into more goals. Finishing or opposing goalkeeping may contribute, but nine matches cannot establish a permanent cause.

Trabzonspor: less possession, similar chance production

Trabzonspor’s possession fell from about 56.67% to 48.78% and goals from 13 to nine. Yet xG was almost identical at 8.87 and 8.88, with shots increasing from 58 to 67. First-half scoring exceeded the chance total more strongly; fewer later goals do not imply that chance creation stopped.

What does time ahead add?

Trabzonspor led for 420 of 810 minutes and Fenerbahçe for 410, or about 51.85% and 50.62%. Galatasaray led for 279 minutes, 34.44%, and Beşiktaş for 314, 38.77%. Protecting a lead is a plausible explanation for lower intensity, but season totals do not identify the score state of each shot. They do not prove that leading caused a second-half slowdown.

Trabzonspor and Fenerbahçe both had first-half goal differences of +8; their second-half figures were +6 and +7. Galatasaray moved from +4 to +3 and Beşiktaş from +3 to +5. These are aggregate half goal differences, not points won or lost. The clearest concerns are Fenerbahçe’s later chance quality and Galatasaray’s defensive balance; Beşiktaş’s increased goals and Trabzonspor’s reduced goals should not be confused with changes in chance volume.