Galatasaray beats Beşiktaş to top league

ISTANBUL

Galatasaray claimed the driver’s seat in the Turkish Super League only three weeks before the end of the season after beating city rival Beşiktaş late May 5.

“It is nice to top the standings before the last three matches,” Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim said in a postgame interview.

“Honestly, we want to get what we deserve after three weeks.”

Galatasaray is yet to fulfill another hard task to feel comfortable when it hosts second-spot Başakşehir next week. The leader will pay a visit to the Black Sea region on MAy 11 to defend its seat against Rizespor. 

The Lions began the home game in an attacking fashion, with visiting Black Eagles failing to convert rare opportunities when it gained the ball. Only one minute before the end of the first half, Galatasaray’s Henry Onyekuru broke the silence.

Referee Bülent Yıldırım denied Beşiktaş’s objections for a wrong throw-in decision before the rapid Galatasaray attack.

The host increased the lead to 2-0 at the 54th minute by Fernando, sealing the score to receive compliments from his boss.

“Fernando is recently in a very good condition,” Terim said.

“When he is physically ready, he becomes indispensable for us.”

In the opening game of the week, Başakşehir was held by a goalless draw with Sivasspor in an away match on May 3, paving the way for its follower to climb to the top of the standings after a 22-week absence.

Three Istanbul clubs – Galatasaray, Başakşehir, and Beşiktaş – are still standing in the title race, apparently the tightest one in decades.

Galatasaray now has 63 points followed by Başakşehir with same points and Beşiktaş following from four points behind.

Beşiktaş coach Şenol Güneş refused to admit that everything was over.

“We are wounded by the loss but we were wounded in the past too. We will push [for the title] until the end,” he said, accusing his players for losing concentration after the referee’s verdicts that they thought to be wrong.

It was Şenol Güneş’s last derby as Beşiktaş coach since the 66-year-old has simultaneously taken the helm at the Turkish national team and is expected to leave Beşiktaş at the end of the season.

Before the decisive derby, both teams carried posters to pay tribute to Alanyaspor’s Czech striker Josef Sural, 28, who died in a road accident in the Mediterranean province of Antalya on April 29 on the way back from an away game.

Beşiktaş will host an upset Alanyaspor under its former attacking midfielder Sergen Yalçın this week.