Beşiktaş, the defending champions of both Süper Lig and Turkish Cup and Fenerbahçe, the finalist of Turkish Cup, were the competing sides for the triumphant.[5]
The two teams had their first meeting for the cup in 2007, in which Fenerbahçe had won 2–1.[4] Additionally, Istanbul rivals had faced each other in Atatürk Olympic Stadium for the first time.[2]
There were injured players who missing the match of both sides; Delgado, Üzülmez and Dağ for Beşiktaş and, Roberto Carlos and Hurmacı for Fenerbahçe.[6] Statistically, this encounter was the 324th one since of 85-year-long rivalry, in which Fenerbahçe lead in having the most wins, 120 to 119 that far, scoring 438 goals in total.[6]