Wounded giants Beşiktaş, Trabzon, clash in league

ISTANBUL

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Beşiktaş hosts Trabzonspor on Oct. 21 in the biggest game of the Spor Toto Super League’s eighth round.

The Black Eagles have fallen from the top of the league with three consecutive defeats and hope to return to their winning ways against another title hopeful, Trabzonspor.

Beşiktaş has eight points, six less than leader Galatasaray, and is currently in 11th spot.

Trabzonspor is yet to find its best form as well. The Black Sea Storm is sixth, with 12 points, but found some consolation recently with a 1-0 win over high-flying Kasımpaşa.

However, Trabzonspor has yet to win a match on away soil this season, drawing twice and losing once in three games.

Earlier on Oct. 21, Kasımpaşa, which is fourth with 12 points, hopes to get its first win with new coach Shota Arveladze onboard as it meets Mersin İdman Yurdu. The Istanbul team, who sacked Metin Diyadin after the fifth week, had been continuing with caretaker coach Fuat Kılıç but will now move forward with Georgian Arveladze.

Eskişehirspor takes on Karabükspor the same day, and Akhisar will meet Gaziantepspor.

On Oct. 20, an injury-hit Fenerbahçe will visit Bursaspor.

Midfielders Raul Meireles, Mehmet Topuz and Mehmet Topal, along with defenders Joseph Yobo and Gökhan Gönül - all first-choice players - will be unavailable on Oct. 20.

Bottom-placed Elazığspor will play Hector Cuper’s Orduspor, while Antalyaspor will take on Sivasspor.