Football: Derby fever hits Turkish Super League
All eyes in Turkey will be on the clash of the Istanbulite archrivals Fenerbahce and Galatasaray on Sunday
ANKARA
Turkish football heavyweights and Istanbul archrivals Fenerbahce and Galatasaray will meet at Fenerbahce’s Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on Sunday.
The clash of the two Spor Toto Super League contenders on March 8 will be conducted by one of the elite referees in Turkey, Cuneyt Cakir.
Regarded as favorites, the home side will not want to drift away from title challenge since the Yellow Canaries are in third with 47 points while Super League leaders Galatasaray are aiming to increase the gap at the top.
Staying on top of the league table, visitors Galatasaray have 51 points. The derby game on Sunday will kick off at 19:00 local time in Turkey (1700 GMT).
Galatasaray closely won the last derby in October 2-1 as the Lions' Dutch midfield star Wesley Sneijder shone by scoring two goals at the Turk Telekom Arena. Fenerbahce's consolation goal was scored by Turkish midfielder Alper Potuk in the last minute of injury time.
Two Fenerbahce players, backup left-back Hasan Ali Kaldirim and midfielder Alper Potuk are having injury problems.
Galatasaray may lack their one of the integral players, combative Brazilian midfielder Felipe Melo. The 31-year-old regular is suffering from a herniated disc injury will miss the derby.
Apart from the title challenge, Galatasaray will want to end their poor record against Fenerbahce in away matches in the league. The Lions have not beaten Fenerbahce at their home ground, since 1999.
- Results of the last 10 derbies in the league in Fenerbahce's home:
|
Date |
Result |
Season |
|
Nov. 10, 2013 |
Fenerbahce 2-0 Galatasaray |
2013-14 |
|
May 12, 2013 |
Fenerbahce 2-1 Galatasaray |
2012-13 |
|
May 12, 2012 |
Fenerbahce 0-0 Galatasaray |
2011-12 Spor Toto Super Final (Playoffs) |
|
Mar. 17, 2012 |
Fenerbahce 2-2 Galatasaray |
2011-12 regular season |
|
Oct. 24, 2010 |
Fenerbahce 0-0 Galatasaray |
2010-11 |
|
Oct. 25, 2009 |
Fenerbahce 3-1 Galatasaray |
2009-10 |
|
Nov. 9, 2008 |
Fenerbahce 4-1 Galatasaray |
2008-09 |
|
Dec. 8, 2007 |
Fenerbahce 2-0 Galatasaray |
2007-08 |
|
Dec. 3, 2006 |
Fenerbahce 2-1 Galatasaray |
2006-07 |
|
Apr. 22, 2006 |
Fenerbahce 4-0 Galatasaray |
2005-06 |
- Fixtures:
Friday, 6 March:
Kasimpasa vs Akhisar Belediyespor at 20:00 (1800 GMT)
Saturday, 7 March:
SAI Kayseri Erciyesspor vs Genclerbirligi at 13:30 (1130 GMT)
Balikesirspor vs Caykur Rizespor at 16:00 (1400 GMT)
Eskisehirspor vs Bursaspor at 19:00 (1700 GMT)
Sunday, 8 March:
Istanbul Basaksehir vs Torku Konyaspor at 13:00 (1100 GMT)
Medicana Sivasspor vs Besiktas at 14:00 (1200 GMT)
Kardemir Karabukspor vs Gaziantepspor at 16:00 (1400 GMT)
Fenerbahce vs Galatasaray at 19:00 (1700 GMT)
Monday, 10 March:
Mersin Idmanyurdu vs Trabzonspor at 20:00 (1800 GMT)
- Standings:
|
Rank |
Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
+/- |
Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Galatasaray |
22 |
16 |
3 |
3 |
41 |
25 |
16 |
51 |
|
2 |
Besiktas |
22 |
15 |
3 |
4 |
36 |
22 |
14 |
48 |
|
3 |
Fenerbahce |
22 |
14 |
5 |
3 |
37 |
17 |
20 |
47 |
|
4 |
Istanbul Basaksehir |
22 |
10 |
8 |
4 |
30 |
15 |
15 |
38 |
|
5 |
Bursaspor |
22 |
10 |
7 |
5 |
44 |
29 |
15 |
37 |
|
6 |
Trabzonspor |
22 |
9 |
10 |
3 |
41 |
35 |
6 |
37 |
|
7 |
Mersin Idmanyurdu |
22 |
9 |
5 |
8 |
38 |
29 |
9 |
32 |
|
8 |
Kasimpasa |
22 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
33 |
39 |
-6 |
28 |
|
9 |
Gaziantepspor |
22 |
8 |
3 |
11 |
21 |
32 |
-11 |
27 |
|
10 |
Genclerbirligi |
22 |
6 |
8 |
8 |
27 |
27 |
0 |
26 |
|
11 |
Akhisar Belediyespor |
22 |
6 |
7 |
9 |
24 |
35 |
-11 |
25 |
|
12 |
Medicana Sivasspor |
22 |
6 |
6 |
10 |
24 |
31 |
-7 |
24 |
|
13 |
Torku Konyaspor |
22 |
6 |
6 |
10 |
19 |
31 |
-12 |
24 |
|
14 |
Eskisehirspor |
22 |
5 |
8 |
9 |
27 |
34 |
-7 |
23 |
|
15 |
Caykur Rizespor |
22 |
5 |
6 |
11 |
24 |
33 |
-9 |
21 |
|
16 |
SAI Kayseri Erciyesspor |
22 |
4 |
8 |
10 |
27 |
32 |
-5 |
20 |
|
17 |
Kardemir Karabukspor |
22 |
4 |
5 |
13 |
26 |
33 |
-7 |
17 |
|
18 |
Balikesirspor |
22 |
3 |
5 |
14 |
23 |
43 |
-20 |
14 |
