02 March 2017•Update: 02 March 2017
By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun
ISTANBUL
Turkish Spor Toto Super Lig roars into action this weekend with league leaders Besiktas fighting to extend their points haul at the top of the table.
Friday will see the first of the action when Black Trabzonspor Kardemir Karabukspor will square off against Kardemir Karabukspor at the Medical Park Arena at 8 p.m. local time (GMT1700).
Sixth-placed Trabzonspor, who are now unbeaten in six league matches since they added Besiktas' former wingman Olcay Sahan to the squad, will look to another bag another three points as they host eighth-placed Kardemir Karabukspor.
Besiktas will host Caykur Rizespor at the Vodafone Arena on Saturday at 7 p.m. local time (GMT 1600). The Istanbul side to this match fresh from an Istanbul derby win over Galatasaray.
Chasing just behind Besiktas are Medipol Basaksehir who will want to regain their earlier league form by beating Aytemiz Alanyaspor in Istanbul on Saturday at 1.30 p.m. (GMT1030).
On Saturday evening, Fenerbahce will aim for their first win in four games as they host Osmanlispor at 7 p.m. (GMT1600).
The Yellow Canaries have managed to only accumulate three points in their last four league matches. The league's matchday 23 will end on Monday evening when Antalyaspor host Galatasaray at 8 p.m. local time (GMT 1700).
Galatasaray currently stands in third place 40 points, 10 behind Besiktas.
Below is the full schedule for matchday 23:
Friday:
20.00 Trabzonspor - Kardemir Karabukspor
Saturday:
16:00 Bursaspor - Gaziantepspor
19:00 Besiktas - Caykur Rizespor
Sunday:
13:30 Medipol Basaksehir - Aytemiz Alanyaspor
16:00 Adanaspor - Atiker Konyaspor
19:00 Kayserispor - Kasimpasa
19:00 Fenerbahce - Osmanlispor
Monday:
19:00 Genclerbirligi - Akhisar Belediyespor
20:00 Antalyaspor - Galatasaray
*The Genclerbirligi v Gaziantepspor match was postponed on match day 18, due to the passing of Genclerbirligi's longtime chairman Ilhan Cavcav on Jan. 22.
Standings as of Tuesday, midday (0900 GMT) Thursday:
St. | Teams | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts. |
1 | Besiktas | 22 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 44 | 18 | 50 |
2 | M.Basaksehir | 22 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 38 | 16 | 46 |
3 | Galatasaray | 22 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 40 | 22 | 40 |
4 | Fenerbahce | 22 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 40 | 20 | 38 |
5 | Antalyaspor | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 25 | 26 | 35 |
6 | Trabzonspor | 22 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 21 | 22 | 32 |
7 | Osmanlispor | 22 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 28 | 24 | 30 |
8 | Karabukspor | 22 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 25 | 29 | 30 |
9 | A.Konyaspor | 22 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 25 | 27 | 29 |
10 | Kasimpasa | 22 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
11 | Bursaspor | 22 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 22 | 28 | 28 |
12 | Akhisar Bld. | 22 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 16 | 27 | 27 |
13 | Genclerbirligi | 21 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 19 | 20 | 26 |
14 | A.Alanyaspor | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 33 | 41 | 25 |
15 | Kayserispor | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 26 | 35 | 25 |
16 | C.Rizespor | 22 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 23 | 37 | 20 |
17 | Adanaspor | 22 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 21 | 36 | 17 |
18 | Gaziantepspor | 21 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 35 | 16 |
