Fenerbahçe returned to the top of the table after an enthralling clash with Beşiktaş in the Istanbul derby. Meanwhile Konyaspor and Başakşehir battled it out for third place while Galatasaray’s season continued to spiral out of control.
Fenerbahçe 2-0 Beşiktaş
The Istanbul derby had everything you want – and expect – when Fenerbahçe take on Beşiktaş. Breakneck tempo, end to end full throttle attacking football, raucous fans, hyper-emotional player and of course where would we be without refereeing controversies. Fenerbahçe took the lead with a brilliant volley from Volkan Şen – although Beşiktaş fans will argue the set-piece that resulted in the goal was not even a foul. Fenerbahçe fans will argue that Beck should have been sent off for a high foot challenge on Şen. Beşiktaş fans will argue that the home side should have had Şen sent off for hitting Jose Sosa in the face and that Erkin should have been given his marching orders for consistent fouling. Despite the theatrics both sides managed to end the game with 11 men. Former Manchester United star Luis Nani was brought on in the second half and scored the winning goal – his eighth at the Şükrü Saracoğlu this season. Fenerbahçe maintained their incredible home record having lost just once at home over the last three seasons. The victory saw the Yellow Canaries overtake Beşiktaş and move into first place. The Eagles could however, move back into pole position if they win their game in hand against Trabzonspor.
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Başakşehir 1-0 Kayserispor
Abdullah Avcı deserves a lot of credit for turning the Istanbul minnows into European competition contenders for the second year running. Başakşehir temporarily moved into third place after beating relegation strugglers by a single goal thanks to the defender Bekir İrtegün.
Mersin 0-2 Konyaspor
Konyaspor are another side on the rise with yet another promising manager in Aykut Kocaman. The former Fenerbahçe man won the league at the helm of the Yellow Canaries but what he is doing at the Anatolian Eagles really is impressive. Konyaspor overtook Başakşehir and moved into third place following a 2-0 win over second from last Mersin with goals from Traore and Bajic.
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Rizespor 2-0 Kasımpaşa
Kasımpaşa have dropped off the pace recently. The Istanbul minnows once impenetrable defence is starting to rust and leak in goals. Rizespor made pretty light work of the Istanbul based side beating them by two goals from Deniz Kadah.
Eskişehirspor 0-1 Bursaspor
The Hamza Hamzaoğlu revolution is in full swing. Bursaspor beat last placed Eskişehirspor with a delightful goal from club legend Pablo Batalla who chipped the ball over the opposition keeper.
Trabzonspor 1-2 Osmanlıspor
Trabzonspor had a less eventful game than the Galatasaray clash that saw four players sent off including Salih Dursun who showed the referee a red card before being given his marching orders. The heavily depleted home side were missing several key players against Osmanlıspor and it showed in the result.
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Sivasspor 0-0 Antalyaspor
Not much to report here as the scoreline suggests it was not the most entertaining of games but Sivasspor will have to improve if they want to stay in top-flight football next season.
Gençlerbirliği 3-1 Akhisar
Ibrahim Üzülmez marches on! The man with the surname that translates to ‘one who cannot be upset’ really can do no wrong. Gençlerbirliği have now won four out of the five games he has been in charge and are now well clear of the drop zone.
Gaziantepspor 2-0 Galatasaray
Galatasaray fans may be wondering why they got rid of Hamzaoğlu considering how they have performed under his more expensive replacement Mustafa Denizli. The Lions crashed out of Europe mid-week following defeat against Lazio and then went onto lose against Gaziantepspor.