Leader Galatasaray to host Trabzonspor

ISTANBUL

The 27th week of Turkey’s top tier football league will feature a showdown between leader Galatasaray and Black Sea giant Trabzonspor in Istanbul on April 1.

Trabzonspor needs a win to keep hopes of qualifying for a European competition next season alive, as the 54-point host feels the heat of followers.

Galatasaray’s regular central midfielder Fernando is suspended for the match. The other midfielder Selçuk İnan may also miss this match due to a minor calf injury.

Visitors Trabzonspor’s Nigerian defensive midfielder Ogenyi Onazi is also suspended from the match.

Burak Yılmaz, who has scored 20 league goals this season, hopes to shine against his former club and catch Galatasaray’s French forward Bafetimbi Gomis, the league’s top scorer with 25 goals in 25 appearances.

Another title contender, Başakşehir, who is one point behind the leader, will play away against Akhisarspor on April 1.

Başakşehir star Arda Turan returned to Turkey from Barcelona during the winter transfer window and is expected to play after recovery from thigh problems. 

Başakşehir defeated Beşiktaş 1-0 at home in the closing match of week 26 to remain on Galatasaray’s heels.

Beşiktaş, who is in third spot, will take on Alanyaspor on March 31 on its home turf at Vodafone Park.

Several Beşiktaş regulars, Chilean defensive midfielder Gary Medel, Portuguese winger Ricardo Quaresma and Brazilian left back Adriano, are suspended from the game.

Elsewhere, Gençlerbirliği will visit Malatyaspor on March 31 in a bid to escape from the relegation line and Antalyaspor will take on Bursaspor.

On April 1, Gençerbirliği’s city rival Osmanlıspor will host Konyaspor in the most crucial game at the bottom of the standings. İzmir’s Göztepe will take on Istanbul’s Kasımpaşa.

In the closing game of the week on April 2, Fenerbahçe will visit Kayserispor to revive its weakened title hopes.