Football: One point difference at top of Super Lig

ANKARA

As the new year approaches, the race at the top of Turkey’s football Super Lig is proving to be a hard fought race with Istanbul rivals Besiktas and Fenerbahce just a point apart.

Second-placed Fenerbahce have 34 points and could leap Besiktas on Sunday evening when they face Ankara’s Genclerbirligi away. Besiktas will play another Ankara club, Osmanlispor, on Monday night.

Fenerbahce midfielder Raul Meireles will miss the game with a long-term knee injury and teammates Volkan Sen and Alper Potuk are also injured. The match is due to be played at the Ankara 19 Mayis Stadium at 7 p.m. local time (1700GMT).

Leading on 35 points, Besiktas are keen to extend their lead at Osmanlispor. Midfielder Tolgay Arslan sustained a ligament injury and is out until late December. The match at the Osmanli Stadium begins at 8 p.m. local time (1800GMT).

The third of the “Big Three”, Galatasaray, sit in fourth place and are nine points adrift of Besiktas following defeat by their Istanbul rivals last week. They host third-placed Akhisar Belediyespor at the Turk Telekom Arena on Sunday.

Striker Burak Yilmaz is doubtful for the match due to injury while playmaker Selcuk Inan is suspended. The match starts at 4 p.m. local time (1400GMT).

Spor Toto Super Lig fixtures:

Saturday:

Gaziantepspor vs Caykur Rizespor

Torku Konyaspor vs Bursaspor

Mersin Idmanyurdu vs Kasimpasa

Trabzonspor vs Antalyaspor

Sunday:

Medicana Sivasspor vs Kayserispor

Galatasaray vs Akhisar Belediyespor

Genclerbirligi vs Fenerbahce

Medipol Basaksehir vs Eskisehirspor

Monday:

Osmanlispor vs Besiktas

Standings