Galatasaray starts a tough, three-game period with Trabzonspor on Sunday in the Turkcell Super League.

After making a flying start to the season averaging more than three goals a game, Galatasaray suffered a slide in form with three games without a win.

Two 1-1 draws against EskiÅŸehirspor in the domestic competition and Austria’s Sturm Graz in the Europa League followed by a humiliating 3-0 defeat at Ankaragücü raised serious questions over whether Galatasaray’s early form in the season was misleading.

Now Frank Rijkaard’s team has the opportunity to prove naysayers wrong. Before taking on Dynamo Bucharest of Romania in the Europa League Thursday and renewing its fierce rivalry with Fenerbahçe next Sunday, Galatasaray welcomes Trabzonspor.

Young midfielder Barış Özbek believes that Galatasaray has what it takes to turn things around after three disappointing games.

“Call it fatigue or a problem with concentration, but it is true that we failed to maintain our brilliant form in the early season,” the combative midfielder said on the GS TV, the team’s official television channel. “That was an accident. Now we have to look forward, not backward.”

Özbek said this three-game period would be crucial in Galatasaray’s bid to win many trophies this season.

“Now we have crucial games ahead, with Trabzonspor, Fenerbahçe and Dynamo Bucharest. Those games will show us the way,” he said. “All the players have been really ambitious this week because we have a goal. We want to win all the trophies we play for.”

Trabzonspor hopes to raise its game as well, since the team had only won two games in the last seven matches. Despite its erratic form, Trabzonspor is still seventh and plans to climb higher.

Coach Hugo Broos admitted that things have not gone well on his side, but acknowledged that it was due to bad luck. “In our last game against Gaziantepspor, we had 10 clear chances and a penalty kick, but failed to score a goal and got only one point,” Broos wrote on the club’s official magazine. “It is not a mentality problem, we were just unlucky.”

The Belgian also explained that his players are eager to help the team improve.

“My players’ ambition is at its best,” he said.

Both title contenders will try to get maximum points on Sunday, hoping to continue their trail behind Fenerbahçe.

With a record-breaking eight victories in a row, Fenerbahçe has been in magical form so far, and plans to extend its winning streak. However, coach Christoph Daum believes that a win at Gaziantepspor on Sunday will not be easy at all.

“We have a big problem for the Gaziantepspor game,” Daum said on the FB TV, the team’s official television channel. “Everyone is talking about the Galatasaray game. That is why, Gaziantepspor game will be the most difficult game of the season for us.”

Defending champion, Beşiktaş will take on Kasımpaşa on Saturday. Beşiktaş was disappointing in the early season, but a win over Denizlispor finally ended its month-long losing streak