Başakşehir extends lead atop Turkish league standings

ISTANBUL

Başakşehir beat Akhisarspor of the relegation zone 3-0 on Feb. 3, extending its winning streak to three in the Spor Toto Super League as its closest rivals in the title race dropped points.

The team based in an Istanbul suburb is now eight points clear of Galatasaray, which was held to a 1-1 draw at Alanyaspor on Feb. 2.

The eight-point gap between the leader and its closest follower is the highest after 20 games in almost 20 years. In the 1998-1999, Galatasaray led Beşiktaş by 11 points after 20 games and went on to win the title four points ahead of its rival.

Beşiktaş romped at Antalyaspor on Feb. 3, winning 6-2 and climbing top to the third spot after Malatyaspor was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Kayserispor one day earlier.

Another happy news for Beşiktaş was new signing Shinji Kagawa, who joined the team on loan from Borussia Dortmund during the winter break.

The Japanese player replaced Adem Ljajic in the 82nd minute and scored 19 seconds later in his first touch to the ball wearing the Beşiktaş jersey in an official game.  He added his side’s sixth goal two minutes later, earning the praise of fans and pundits.

Ankaragücü’s slip continued, with the team from the capital getting its sixth loss in a row 1-0 at Trabzonspor on Feb. 2.

The home side climbed to the fifth spot, while Ankaragücü, which has yet to win a league game since Nov. 4, 2018, is now in the relegation zone.

Fenerbahçe grabbed its second win in a row, beating Göztepe 2-0 in an away game, and now sits five spots above the relegation zone in 11th.

Also in Week 20 games, Erzurumspor lost 1-0 to Rizespor and Kasımpaşa was beaten 3-1 at home by Sivasspor.