Beşiktaş loses derby, league lead

ISTANBUL

Beşiktaş and Galatasaray both shar ethe second spot with 35 points.

Fenerbahçe goes into the winter break atop Spor Toto Super League standings after Beşiktaş lost top spot with a 2-0 loss against Galatasaray in an Istanbul derby on Jan. 4.

Both of Galatasaray’s goals came in the second half of the match, with Felipe Melo scoring in the 50th minute before Burak Yılmaz made sure of the points in injury time.

Beşiktaş midfielder Veli Kavlak was sent off in the 62nd minute following a scuffle with Galatasaray midfielder Wesley Sneijder.

The Lions took the lead with Brazilian midfielder Melo finding the net from a corner kick before the insurance goal from Yılmaz, who scored following a long run that began from midfield.

Fenerbahçe, which beat Istanbul Başakşehir 2-0 at home on Jan. 4, replaced Beşiktaş as the league leader with 36 points, followed by Beşiktaş and Galatasaray, respectively, which both have 35 points.
The victory continued Galatasaray’s success in derbies against its city rivals Beşiktaş and Fenerbahçe. Of the 21 games it has played against the other two in the last four seasons, Galatasaray has won 12, drawn six and lost only three.

The result also meant that Beşiktaş coach Slaven Bilic is still winless in Istanbul derbies in his second season at the club.

“It is sad to finish the first half of the season in such way,” the Croatian told a postgame press conference. “We had our chances, but failed to show the extra quality that would bring us the goal,” he added. “We conceded a simple goal, and although we had enough time to recover, Veli [Kavlak] received a stupid red card. We should not repeat such mistakes, especially in such important and determining games.”

Galatasaray trainer hopeful on Sneijder

Galatasaray coach Hamza Hamzaoğlu said after the game that he was happy to have won his first derby game at the helm of Galatasaray.

“We got a good win in a difficult game,” he said. “I congratulate my players. They did their best and we had a clean victory.”

Hamzaoğlu also said he wanted to keep Sneijder, who is reportedly a target for many European clubs, in the winter transfer season.

“But transfer issues are unpredictable, if we receive an offer, and he says he wants to leave, different things may happen,” said the coach. “But for now, that is not the situation.”

In the weekend’s other games, Bursaspor extended its winning streak to three games with a 3-1 victory against Akhisar Belediye at home, Kayseri Erciyes was humiliated at home by Kasımpaşa with a 5-2 loss, Gaziantepspor was victorious at Eskişehirspor by a score of 3-1, Sivasspor won 2-0 at home over Karabükspor and Çaykur Rizespor and Torku Konyaspor shared the spoils with a 1-1 draw.
The second half of the Spor Toto Super League will start on Jan. 23.