The Turkish Super League returns after the international break with two mini Istanbul derbies between Beşiktaş v Başakşehir and Fenerbahçe v Kasımpaşa plus a whole lot more.
Akhisar v Gaziantepspor: Under 2.5 goals
Not the most glamorous match to kick the week off with but Akhisar remain unbeaten in the league this season and have been difficult to break down. To make matters worse for Gaizantepspor the Falcons have not scored against the Akiogolar in their last three away trips. Akhisar have a great defensive record but are not the most prolific side in-front of goal. It would not be a huge surprise if this ended up being a low scoring game.
Bursaspor v Gençlerbirliği: Gençlerbirliği Draw No Bet
There have been crocodile tears at Bursaspor after losing all three games this season but they have nobody to blame but themselves. The Green Crocodiles sold just about every key player from the side that made it to the Turkish Cup final last season. Gençlerbirliği got their first win of the season after sacking Stuart Baxter for losing his first two games. The Ankara based side have been through more managers than we can remember in the last year. Expect the away side to put up a tough fight against a demoralised Bursaspor.
Antalyaspor v Eskişehirspor: Over 2.5 goals
Antalyaspor were moments away from a draw against Fenerbahçe but Luis Nani scored a free-kick in the last minute of additional time to change all that. Eskişehirspor will need to improve their defending if they are to keep out Samuel Eto’o who is in red hot form. Expect an open game with goals galore.
Galatasaray v Mersin: Galatasaray -1 Asian Handicap
The Lions are in crisis off the pitch following a shambolic ending to the transfer window where they lost Felipe Melo and Alex Telles. Galatasaray did sign Kevin Grosskreutz but failed to send over the necessary paper work resulting in the club failing to register the Germany international in time. The Istanbul giants problems are however, a speck in the ocean compared to Mersin who sit rock bottom at the foot of the table and already look like relegation candidates. Galatasaray should win this comfortably.
Beşiktaş v Başakşehir: Beşiktaş -1 Asian Handicap
The mini Istanbul derby sees a Beşiktaş side that can’t stop scoring against a Başakşehir side that can’t stop conceding. The likes of ex-Arsenal Oğuzhan Özyakup, Cenk Tosun and former Chelsea Gökhan Töre have hit the ground running under the stewardship of Şenol Güneş. It is difficult seeing how this could end in any other way than an emphatic Black Eagles victory.
Rizespor v Sivasspor: Rizespor Win
Rizespor are undefeated in the league this season, which is even more worthy of praise when you consider they have played Fenerbahçe and Eskişehirspor on the road. Sivasspor meanwhile have managed just two points and their defending has been to put it kindly awful having already let in seven goals.
Osmanlıspor v Konyaspor: Osmanlıspor Draw No Bet
The battle of the Ottomans and Selçuk Turks ended with victory to the former but in the footballing reenactment of history this one looks destined for a stalemate. Konyaspor have only managed to secure two points this season while newly-promoted Osmanlıspor are flying high in 9th place and remain undefeated in the league. Konyaspor may have more individual quality but Osmanlıspor will be difficult to break down.
Kasımpaşa v Fenerbahçe: Fenerbahçe Win
Kasımpaşa have an excellent defensive record but Fenerbahçe have more than enough individual attacking talent to find a way through. The Yellow Canaries have been slowly moving gears over the past few weeks and should have enough quality to find a way through their Istanbul rivals.