The Super Lig title race appears to be heading towards a two-horse race between Basaksehir and Galatasaray after Fenerbahce held Besiktas to a 3-3 draw in the Istanbul derby on Monday.
Besiktas headed into the derby needing a win to close the gap with leaders Basaksehir to nine points. And they got off to a brilliant start after Gokhan Gonul scored followed by a brace from Burak Yilmaz before the half-time break.
The Black Eagles somehow managed to blow a three-goal lead at home against a Fenerbahce side in the relegation zone. You really couldn’t make it up. I have to give credit to the visiting fans who stood by their team at half-time when many would have gone home. The Yellow Canaries showed great resolve in pulling off their miraculous comeback. January signing Mihi Zajc scored his first goal and Hasan Ali Kaldirim’s strike was simply outstanding.
GOL | Beşiktaş 3-3 Fenerbahçe
67′ Hasan Ali
Tüm Goller için • @KramponSport pic.twitter.com/cIXT0USd9C
— Krampon Media (@KramponUefaTV) February 25, 2019
Fenerbahce pulled off a huge psychological win. The draw will do wonders for team morale but it is worth underlining that they are just one point above the relegation zone.
Besiktas meanwhile were distraught after the draw. And rightly so. There are no excuses for blowing a three-goal lead at home. It is however, worth remembering that this was a derby and the Black Eagles are undefeated in 2019. Don’t rule them out of the race just yet.
See More: Besiktas 3-3 Fenerbahce: Yellow Canaries Pull Off Incredible Comeback To Escape Relegation Zone
It was sirtaki time at Galatasaray who were saved their blushes against last-placed Akhisar with a last-gasp goal from Kostas Mitroglou. Ironically, the Greek international did not actually have a great game and squandered several chances. But a striker is judged on his goals and boy was this an important one.
Last minute goal from Hellas international Kostas Mitroglou with his first goal and the winner for Galatasaray against Akhisarspor.pic.twitter.com/vJiRi71paP
— Göksel Uzunoglu (@10GoekiDe) February 24, 2019
The Lions kept their six-point gap with leaders Basaksehir who crushed Bursaspor 3-0. The Green Crocodiles dropped into the relegation zone as a result, falling behind Fenerbahce who rose to 14th.
Elsewhere in the league Trabzonspor returned to winning ways beating Goztepe 3-1 on the road. The Black Sea based side are probably too far off the leading pack to be considered title challengers but they did move into 4th place. And look likely to remain in the top four with Malatyaspor on a dismal run losing again on the weekend 3-0 to Rizespor. Konyaspor have also dropped off the pace and are without a win in their last four games.
At the bottom end of the table Akhisar remain rooted to the bottom of the table. Erzrumspor also look likely candidates to go down after losing to Ankaragucu. The third relegation spot is however, too close to call. Bursaspor are 16th on 24 points with Fenerbahce and Goztepe tied on 25 points and 13th placed Ankaragucu on 27 points.