Turkish teams return for domestic games

ISTANBUL

Three Turkish football teams that are involved in European competition return to the domestic league this weekend after midweek action.

Istanbul’s Başakşehir, second in the Super League behind Galatasaray, drew 1-1 with Germany’s Hoffenheim in the Europa League Group C match late on Nov. 2, and will visit league newcomer Yeni Malatyaspor on Nov. 5.

Despite falling behind 0-1 in the 47th minute in front of their fans at the Fatih Terim Stadium, Başakşehir kept its hopes alive after Bosnian winger Edin Visca’s injury time stunner.

The draw gave Başakşehir its second point in four matches but it is still bottom of Group C.

In the other match of the group, leaders PFC Ludogorets drew 1-1 against SC Braga.

Başakşehir needs to win its two remaining games to have any hope of advancing to the Round of 32.

Konyaspor, the second Turkish team involved in the Europa League, is currently facing hard times both at home and in Europe.

It drew 0-0 with FC Salzburg in Austria on Nov. 2, meaning that FC Salzburg remains top of the group on eight points after four matches, while Konyaspor are two points behind Marseille on four points.

With the draw, Konyaspor managed to avoid a defeat in an away match for the first time in its Europa League history, after losing four consecutive matches. In the other match of the group, Vitoria SC defeated Marseille 1-0.

The Central Anatolian team will pay now a visit to Sivasspor on Nov. 5 in the Turkish Super League.

Beşiktaş, which broke its perfect record in the Champions League group stage with a home draw against France’s Monaco on Nov. 1, will be in the Aegean city of İzmir to take on Göztepespor, another league newcomer that is currently in fifth place.

Göztepe coach Tamer Tuna is a former Beşiktaş player and was the assistant manager of the defending champion last year.

Istanbul’s Kasımpaşaspor will host Bursaspor on Nov. 4 while Trabzonspor, which handed league leader Galatasaray its first defeat last week, will visit Kayserispor.

Osmanlıspor, currently at the bottom of the standings, will take on Istanbul giant Fenerbahçe. The Akhisarspor-Alanlayspor match is also on Nov. 5.