Galatasaray plays Malatya with eyes on league title

ISTANBUL

Spor Toto Super League leader Galatasaray is set to host Malatyaspor on May 12, knowing that a victory will take the Istanbul club one huge step closer to the league title.

Galatasaray sits atop the standings after 32 games with 69 points, three ahead of Başakşehir and Fenerbahçe, second and third, respectively. Three points against Malatya will mean that a draw at Göztepe in the final game of the season will be enough for the club to secure its 21st Turkish league trophy.

However, Malatyaspor has no intention of making things easy for the home side. The team’s forward, Eren Tozlu, said last week’s hard-fought goalless draw at Göztepe provided a boost of confidence to the squad.

“Galatasaray will play for the title, and we are in a comfortable position in the league,” he told Doğan News Agency.

“We will go out there and do our best. It does not matter for us whether Galatasaray will be the champion or not, God willing we will get at least a draw.”

While it competes for the title on the pitch, Galatasaray is also struggling with off-pitch issues stemming from its financial situation.

The UEFA Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) met on May 10 and 11 to decide on the financial fair play situation of Galatasaray and the decision will be announced in June.

“There are UEFA Club Financial Control Body meetings tomorrow and on Friday, and Galatasaray is part of the agenda,” an UEFA press officer said on May 9.

No officials from Galatasaray will participate in these meetings, the official added.

In March, Galatasaray officials met UEFA officials in Nyon, Switzerland, to defend that its economic situation is in accordance with financial fair play rules.

Following a three-hour meeting with UEFA officials, Galatasaray President Mustafa Cengiz told reporters: “We made a 50-page presentation and UEFA asked us some questions. We have explained our realistic plan for the next three years.”

“We made three different presentations and UEFA has paid attention to these,” Cengiz added.

Galatasaray already missed the European competition during the 2016-2017 season for violating financial fair play rules.

Also this weekend in the Super League, Gençlerbirliği is to travel to Kasımpaşa and Konyaspor will host Göztepe on May 12.

In May 13 matches, Beşiktaş will visit Osmanlıspor, Bursaspor will entertain Trabzonspor at home, and Sivasspor will take on Alanyaspor.

On May 14, Fenerbahçe will play at already-relegated Karabükspor and Kayserispor will host Akhisarspor, which beat Fenerbahçe 3-2 on May 10 to grab the Turkish Cup.

Başakşehir was to play Antalyaspor late on May 11.