Başakşehir feels the heat as Turkish Super League title race tightens

ISTANBUL

Turkish Super League leader Başakşehir will take on İzmir’s Göztepe on April 26 in the opening game of match week 30 to defend a narrowing gap with its followers.

The Istanbul side suffered a major blow after being held by a 1-1 draw with Rizespor on April 21, one day after second spot Galatasaray beat Malatyaspor.

Playing at home for a second week in a row, coach Abdullah Avcı’s team now feels the heat ahead of the season’s last five games, with Galatasaray coming from only three points behind.

“We expect nothing from no one,” Avcı said in a postgame interview, adding that the team did not pay any mind to its rivals’ games.

“We trust in our game power that carried us to this spot,” he said.

Still, any further point drops will inevitably put even more pressure on his side bidding to clinch its first title ever.

A motivated Galatasaray will visit Konyaspor on April 29.

Third spot Beşiktaş, which renewed its hopes for being qualified for the Champions League next season after a tight win over Sivasspor last week, will host Ankaragücü on April 28 to remain in the race ahead of an away clash with Galatasaray in a decisive derby.

Another Istanbul giant, Fenerbahçe, will play against Trabzonspor on April 27 to escape further from the relegation line in a disappointing season.

Elsewhere, Rizespor will play against Sivasspor on April 27 when Erzurumspor visits Antalyaspor.

On April 28, Bursaspor will host cellar-dweller Akhisarspor in a game that might reshuffle the cards at the bottom of the standings.

Kayserispor will take on Alanyaspor on April 28, as Yeni Malatyaspor will host Kasımpaşa on April 29.