This is it. The weekend that will determine what kind of title race we will have as 4th placed Fenerbahce take on leaders Galatasaray while Besiktas and Basaksehir who are both three points behind the leaders go head to head.
Our current record for picks stands at 66 wins 53 loss.
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Kasimpasa vs Antalyaspor
Avoid!
Karabukspor vs Osmanlispor
Definiately avoid!
Genclerbirligi vs Akhisar
Genclerbirligi’s big run is over, expect Akhisar to escape Ankara with at least a point.
Prediction: Akhisar Draw No Bet
Bursaspor vs Sivasspor
Sivasspor struggle on the road and Bursaspor are absolutely desperate for a win to put some distance between them and the relegation zone. The Green Crocodiles have not exactly been playing stellar stuff but they have just enough quality to pull off a home win – if they can be bothered.
Prediction: Bursaspor Win
Fenerbahce vs Galatasaray
It really is last chance saloon for Fenerbahce. The Yellow Canaries head into the Intercontinental derby six points behind league leaders Galatasaray. A defeat would effectively end their title challenge. Another big derby loss like the Besiktas debacle would be too much to stomach.
Fenerbahce manager Aykut Kocaman probably would not survive a defeat against Galatasaray. The good news for Aykut is that the visitors have not won at the Sukru Saracoglu since 1999. Some say the Lions are cursed and that black magic is at play but whatever the actual reason it is an impressive record.
The home faithful have not been best pleased with Kocaman this season. There is a fundamental philosophical disagreement over how the team should play. Fenerbahce fans demand attacking football, Kocaman has other ideas.
Galatasaray, on the other hand, have won their last three games. The league leaders have been unstoppable at home but lost four of their last six away games.
Now we must underline. The derby is a huge deal in Turkey and quite often the form book goes out the window. There are fans who would take humiliating their rivals in the derby over lifting silverware. That’s just a glimpse into how deep the faults are.
Under normal circumstances, going on past results, the fact Fenerbahce are not in the best of spirits and the fans are not exactly enthralled with how Kocaman has the team players, I’d say Galatasaray were favorites. But something happens to the Lions at the Sukru Saracoglu. You can’t go against a record that has stood since the turn of the millennium.
Expect a passionate affair, disrupted by crazy antics and several red cards.
Prediction: Fenerbahce -0 (Draw No Bet)
Konyaspor vs Kayserispor
Konyaspor are in freefall. Kayserispor meanwhile will close the gap with fourth-placed Fenerbahce to just three points should they lose to Galatasaray.
Prediction: Kayserispor +0.5 (Asian Handicap)
Alanyaspor vs Goztepe
Goztepe have similar ambitions to Kayserispor while Alanyaspor do not really have any ambition at all.
Trabzonspor vs Malatyaspor
This is simple really. Trabzonspor ‘should’ win at home.
Prediction: Trabzonspor Win
Basaksehir vs Besiktas
Traditionalists get triggered by anyone calling this fixture an Istanbul derby but it is time to start accepting Basaksehir have a major force and are also based in the city.
Basaksehir and Besiktas are tied on 50 points, just three behind leaders Galatasaray.
The home side have been brilliant this season as they were last term. Abdullah Avci deserves a medal of honor for what he has achieved on a shoestring budget. The club should really rename the stadium after him as a measure of acknowledgment for what he has managed to pull off.
There is however, one problem. Basaksehir’s limitations were exposed against Fenerbahce a few weeks ago. Like Aykut Kocaman, Besiktas manager Senol Gunes is also a renowned tactitian. Besiktas also happen to be reigning champions for the past two seasons and have just turned on their boosters at this critical stage in the season.
Prediction: Besiktas Win