Fenerbahçe takes on Başakşehir to remain in race

ISTANBUL

After heaving a sigh of relief in a 2-0 UEFA Europa League win against Slovakia’s Spartak Trnava, Istanbul’s Fenerbahçe will try to stick to the domestic league in a difficult home game against second-spot Başakşehir on Oct. 7.

The Yellow Canaries now have only seven points in the first seven games of the Turkish Super League, with critics already grilling coach Phillip Cocu, who radically changed the system, switching to a 3-5-2 formation against Trnava.

“We played well despite the fact that we did not have much time to practice this system,” Cocu said after the Europa League Group D game.

The change was not linked to the upcoming Başakşehir game but the formation of the UEFA night’s rival, he said.

The visiting Başakşehir has 14 points and follows leader Galatasaray from one point behind.

Fatih Terim’s Galatasaray will visit Antalyaspor, a dark horse of the season, on Oct. 6 to continue its lead.

Antalya coach Bülent Korkmaz, a legendary Galatasaray player, said he was not afraid of the Istanbul giant.

“Galatasaray is a Champions League team. They have players who play in for their national team but we do not consider all these as a disadvantage,” he said.

Third spot Beşiktaş will visit Konyaspor on Oct. 7, to wrap the wounds from a 2-0 loss to Malmö away at a Europe League group stage game late on Oct. 4.

Kasımpaşa will host İzmir’s Göztepe on Oct. 6, when Erzurumspor will take on Kayseri and Bursaspor will play against Ankaragücü at home.

On Oct. 7, Yeni Malatyaspor will face Sivasspor as Akhisar will host Black Sea’s Trabzonspor.