Turkish league leader Beşiktaş visits Trabzon as top three feel the heat

With third-placed Fenerbahçe hosting cellar-dweller Balıkesirspor on May 2 and city rival Galatasaray traveling to troubled Akhisar Belediye on May 4, Beşiktaş will be giving its all at Trabzon to stay atop the standings against a team determined for a victory.

Beşiktaş heads the league with 61 points, ahead of Galatasaray on goal difference, while Fenerbahçe trails one point behind.

Trabzonspor coach Ersun Yanal, who was delighted with a 2-1 victory at home against Galatasaray two weeks ago, will take special measures to upset another title contender. Paraguayan striker Oscar Cardozo and midfielder Mehmet Ekici will be back from injuries and are set to play key roles in Yanal’s plans. 

The experienced coach Yanal is especially motivating Cardozo, who has so far been unable to score against all three title contenders.

Yanal will also take special precautions to deal with Beşiktaş striker Demba Ba, who has scored 16 league goals so far this season. Ba trails Bursaspor’s Brazilian striker Fernandao, who has scored 18, in the race to become the league’s top scorer.

Trabzonspor is currently in fifth place in the standings, vying with Bursaspor and Istanbul Başakşehir to grab the fourth spot hence the final European berth. All three teams have 47 points and are separated on goal difference. 

Meanwhile Beşiktaş defender Ersan Gülüm, who sustained an injury last week in a 2-1 victory against Karabükspor, has said he wants to play against Trabzonspor.

“All we are focused on is the Trabzonspor game, I will not be on the field but that does not matter,” Gülüm was quoted as saying by Eurosport TR.

He stated that his recovery is going to plan and that he will be ready in time for the game.

“My recovery is going well, I am almost back to maximum strength, I would love to play but it is up to the manager to make that decision,” Gülüm added.

Beşiktaş beat Trabzonspor 3-0 the last time the two sides met in the first half of the season.

In the other games on May 3, Bursaspor will aim for a victory at Kasımpaşaspor hoping to keep its place in fourth spot, while Gaziantepsor hosts Gençlerbirliği in a mid-table clash.

On May 2, Istanbul Başakşehir takes on Eskişehirspor at home, Mersin İdmanyurdu hosts Torku Konyaspor, and Çaykur Rizespor travels to Karabükspor.

Kayseri Erciyesspor will entertain Sivasspor in a game scheduled for May 4.