Top Defenders of the First 6 Weeks in the Süper Lig: Arda Kızıldağ at the Top, Davinson and Emirhan as Two-Way Players

Evaluating a defender solely based on the goals conceded by their team can be misleading, especially in the early weeks of the season. The team's game plan, the goalkeeper's form, the quality of shots faced, and the score scenarios during the match can directly alter this number.

Therefore, we assessed the standout defenders of the first six weeks of the Süper Lig based on metrics such as duels won, aerial duels, interceptions, successful tackles, and contributions to build-up play per 90 minutes. A minimum threshold of 270 minutes played was used for selection. This is a sufficient lower limit to filter out short bursts from two brief matches at the start of the season; however, it is important to remember that the data still represents an evolving sample.

This resulted in five distinct defensive roles: defenders who cut the ball off before it reaches the opponent, those who are unafraid to engage in contact, those who dominate aerial situations in the penalty area, and those who carry the play from the back.

Arda Kızıldağ: The Leader in Defensive Actions

Arda Kızıldağ, despite playing only 282 minutes, possesses the most remarkable defensive statistics of the first six weeks.

The Gaziantep F.K. defender ranks second among all defenders with 7.98 duels won per 90 minutes. He leads the league in aerial duels with 6.38 and also tops the charts in interceptions with 3.51.

The combination of these three metrics is significant. Arda is not just a defender who waits in the penalty area to deal with incoming crosses; he presents himself as a defender who is dominant in the air, strong in direct confrontations, and capable of closing passing lanes early.

However, it is crucial to contextualize this start correctly. 282 minutes is just slightly over the sample size of three full matches. Therefore, it would be premature to declare Arda as the 'best defender of the season.' Yet, in the first six weeks, no other defender has created such a strong and versatile intersection in defensive actions.

Ayberk Karapo: The Profile of Contact-Based Defense

Kasımpaşa’s Ayberk Karapo, presents a different defensive character than Arda. He ranks among the upper echelon with 7.69 duels won per 90 minutes, while also placing third with 2.88 successful tackles.

This profile describes a defender who is more about accepting contact and playing close to the ball carrier rather than cutting off the opponent's actions before they begin.

Playing 281 minutes in the first six weeks, Ayberk’s statistics indicate that he is one of the most aggressive faces of the Kasımpaşa defense. His prominence also reminds us that evaluating defenders solely based on aerial dominance or passing quality is insufficient. Some defenders make a difference by reading the game, while others do so by winning the duel itself.

Emirhan Topçu: The Intersection of Defensive Strength and Build-Up Play

Emirhan Topçu, is one of the most balanced defenders in the first six weeks.

The Beşiktaş player has recorded 7.48 duels won and 3.29 aerial duels per 90 minutes over 301 minutes. These two values place him in the upper tier of the league in direct defensive actions. However, what differentiates Emirhan’s profile is what he does with the ball.

With 66.08 accurate passes per 90 minutes, he ranks seventh among defenders. He is also sixth with 9.27 passes into the final third. This means he not only stops the opponent but also carries a significant passing volume in transitioning his team to an established attack.

This is a valuable type of defender for teams that want to maintain possession. While physically standing firm in the defensive line, he can also determine the quality of the first pass into the opponent's half. The data from the first six weeks makes Emirhan not only a functional candidate for Beşiktaş's defense but also one of the most effective two-way defenders in the league.

Davinson Sánchez: Elite Balance in High Minute Volume

Davinson Sánchez’s profile is based on a strong continuity of 521 minutes, differing from short-term high averages.

The Galatasaray defender wins 3.28 aerial duels per 90 minutes, placing him among the top defenders. Additionally, with 60.81 accurate passes, he is one of the defenders with the highest passing volume in the league and ranks ninth with 8.46 passes into the final third.

Davinson’s statistics do not confine his game to a single category. While remaining effective in aerial duels, he can also carry the play from the back and regularly attempts passes that advance into the opponent's half. Therefore, it would be insufficient to define him solely as an 'athletic defender.'

The 521-minute sample makes Davinson’s balanced production in the first six weeks more meaningful. While Arda’s peak in defensive actions and Emirhan’s higher passing volume may each be noteworthy, Davinson is one of the most reliable profiles that combines these areas at a high minute volume.

Dimitrios Goutas: Consistency in Aerial Defense

Dimitrios Goutas is one of the players who has been on the field for all six weeks: 540 minutes, 100% in the starting eleven.

The Gençlerbirliği defender ranks third among defenders with 3.50 aerial duels won per 90 minutes. This clearly demonstrates the most evident aspect of Goutas’s defensive value: he regularly deals with aerial threats around the penalty area and in direct play.

Aerial statistics alone do not explain the entire quality of a defender. However, producing one of the league's best aerial performances at such a high minute volume is significant. Goutas’s position is built not on standout single matches or short-term averages, but through a consistently recurring defensive duty each week.

The Same List, Five Different Defensive Roles

This quintet does not represent a single 'ideal defender' template.

Arda Kızıldağ has the strongest defensive action profile in the first six weeks in terms of interceptions, aerial duels, and duels won. Ayberk Karapo stands out with his direct intervention and duel strength. Emirhan Topçu and Davinson Sánchez shine as two-way defenders who carry defensive impact into the build-up play. Dimitrios Goutas offers reliability in aerial defense with his high minute volume.

This picture also raises a question to be monitored for the remainder of the season: Will players like Arda and Ayberk, who produce high actions in a short sample, be able to sustain this level? Will defenders with higher minute volumes like Davinson, Emirhan, and Goutas be able to maintain the same efficiency as the season progresses?

The answers may vary. However, the data from the first six weeks already shows that the race for defenders in the Süper Lig is rich enough not to be read solely through the names of the big teams.

You can use StatsLook’s player comparison tools to compare these players across more than 50 metrics, find similar defender profiles, and track their changes throughout the season.