Football: Istanbul derby fever in Turkish Super Lig
Besiktas to host city rivals Galatasaray at Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul on Monday
Istanbul rivals Besiktas and Galatasaray are set to clash in a Super Lig derby at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium on Monday.
Leading the Super Lig with 32 points, Besiktas want to get over this week’s 3-1 loss to Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon in the UEFA Europa League which saw the Turks eliminated from the competition.
Galatasaray are six points behind Besiktas and need to win the match to cling onto their title hopes.
Besiktas' regulars, Turkish winger Gokhan Tore and center-back Ersan Gulum are injured, as are central midfielders Veli Kavlak and Tolgay Arslan.
Meanwhile, Galatasaray's left-back Lionel Carole, defender Jason Denayer and midfielder Hamit Altintop are suffering from injury problems.
The derby will kick-off at 8 p.m. local time (1800 GMT).
Galatasaray dominating Besiktas derbies
Galatasaray have dominated derbies against Besiktas in recent seasons; the Lions have won the last five league games against their city rivals.
The last derby between the teams was played in Galatasaray's home ground, Turk Telekom Arena on May 24.
Galatasaray won the league clash 2-0 as Turkish winger Yasin Oztekin and Dutch star Wesley Sneijder scored.
Fenerbahce look for win in critical derby week
Being in second spot with 31 points in the Super Lig, Fenerbahce are looking for a victory this derby weekend.
Fenerbahce will host Medipol Basaksehir at Ulker Stadium Fenerbahce Sukru Saracoglu Sports Complex on Sunday.
The Yellow Canaries' left-back Hasan Ali Kaldirim is suspended for the home match due to a red card picked up in a previous league match.
Fenerbahce's star forward Robin van Persie has calf problems so he may miss the match.
The Istanbul side’s Turkish winger Volkan Sen and Portuguese central midfielder Raul Meireles are injured as well.
Former Fenerbahce veteran Emre Belozoglu – now playing for Medipol Basaksehir – is not expected to play against his ex-club because of injury.
The match in Kadikoy will start at 7 p.m. local time (1700 GMT).
Spor Toto Super Lig fixtures:
Friday:
Bursaspor vs Osmanlispor
Saturday:
Kasimpasa vs Torku Konyaspor
Eskisehirspor vs Gaziantepspor
Antalyaspor vs Mersin Idmanyurdu
Caykur Rizespor vs Trabzonspor
Sunday:
Kayserispor vs Akhisar Belediyespor
Genclerbirligi vs Medicana Sivasspor
Fenerbahce vs Medipol Basaksehir
Monday:
Besiktas vs Galatasaray
Standings
Rank |
Teams |
P |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
+/- |
Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Besiktas |
14 |
10 |
2 |
2 |
32 |
15 |
17 |
32 |
2 |
Fenerbahce |
14 |
9 |
4 |
1 |
23 |
12 |
11 |
31 |
3 |
Akhisar Belediyespor |
14 |
8 |
4 |
2 |
20 |
11 |
9 |
28 |
4 |
Galatasaray |
14 |
7 |
5 |
2 |
33 |
18 |
15 |
26 |
5 |
Medipol Basaksehir |
14 |
8 |
2 |
4 |
21 |
12 |
9 |
26 |
6 |
Kasimpasa |
14 |
6 |
5 |
3 |
18 |
11 |
7 |
23 |
7 |
Torku Konyaspor |
14 |
6 |
5 |
3 |
17 |
18 |
-1 |
23 |
8 |
Trabzonspor |
14 |
6 |
2 |
6 |
18 |
18 |
0 |
20 |
9 |
Caykur Rizespor |
14 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
19 |
19 |
0 |
18 |
10 |
Antalyaspor |
14 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
22 |
26 |
-4 |
17 |
11 |
Gaziantepspor |
14 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
13 |
22 |
-9 |
16 |
12 |
Osmanlispor |
14 |
4 |
3 |
7 |
16 |
16 |
0 |
15 |
13 |
Bursaspor |
14 |
5 |
0 |
9 |
14 |
21 |
-7 |
15 |
14 |
Kayserispor |
14 |
3 |
5 |
6 |
11 |
14 |
-3 |
14 |
15 |
Genclerbirligi |
14 |
3 |
4 |
7 |
14 |
21 |
-7 |
13 |
16 |
Medicana Sivasspor |
14 |
1 |
7 |
6 |
15 |
21 |
-6 |
10 |
17 |
Mersin Idmanyurdu |
14 |
2 |
4 |
8 |
17 |
29 |
-12 |
10 |
18 |
Eskisehirspor |
14 |
2 |
1 |
11 |
13 |
32 |
-19 |
7 |
