Beşiktaş beats Galatasaray to equalize matters
ISTANBUL
The race for the Turkish Super League title has tightened, with Beşiktaş narrowly beating a third-place Galatasaray in a match week that saw leader Başakşehir drop three points.
The Black Eagles defeated defending champion Galatasaray 1-0 in a derby match late on Dec. 2, equalizing its points with the rival at 24.
Adem Ljajic of the Black Eagles converted a penalty goal at 17th minute of the match at Beşiktaş’s Vodafone Park.
“We played wholeheartedly. We once again showed that we are a great team,” he said in an interview after the game.
The game ended 1-0 as none of the teams managed to score in the second half, with referee Cüneyt Çakır denying three penalty decisions after a video-assisted referee (VAR) check and Beşiktaş missing at least two chances during the injury time.
Beşiktaş coach Şenol Güneş praised his players for the high tempo in the first 30 minutes, admitting that the visitors’ pressure then started forcing them to play long balls.
“We also made some mistakes,” he said, adding that many players were tired after a challenging UEFA Europa League group stage game against Norway’s Sarpsborg away on Nov. 29.
Beşiktaş escaped a 2-0 defeat to win the game 3-2 and remain in the race for qualification.
“We worked hard, won the game and we are happy,” Güneş said.
Galatasaray deputy coach Ümit Davala, who has replaced suspended head coach Fatih Terim, preferred not to appear at a post-game press briefing.
His side was also tired and upset following a 2-0 away loss to Lokomotiv Moscow in a UEFA Champions League Group D match, which knocked out the Lions from Europe’s top-tier club competition.
The Istanbul heavyweights met for the 344th time on Dec. 2 after competing for 95 years, during which Galatasaray beat Beşiktaş 121 times and was defeated 110 times.
In the opening game of the week, 30-point Başakşehir bowed 1-0 to Sivasspor, encouraging the remaining title contenders, Beşiktaş and Galatasaray, along with second-place dark horse Kasımpaşa.