Beşiktaş out to chase leader Başakşehir

ISTANBUL

Istanbul’s Beşiktaş, two points behind Turkish Super League leader Başakşehir, will take on Kayserispor at home in Istanbul’s Vodafone Park on Sept. 29 in a bid to make up two points it dropped in an Istanbul derby earlier this week.

The Black Eagle’s coach Şenol Güneş, who has enjoyed two in-form players in the left back so far, has to make a sharp decision for the week seven clash as Caner Erkin was sent off at the end of the derby against a struggling Fenerbahçe on Sept. 24 and Adriano Correia, who missed a training on Sept. 27 due to injury, is also not likely to be in the lineup.

Fullback Domagoj Vida may fill the missing position according to local media, which reported the Croatian international had additional training on weekdays.

Güneş reportedly warned attacking players to take more roles, saying that winger Ryan Babel cannot shoulder the full responsibility to score.

He is expected to put newcomer Serbian midfielder Adem Ljajic on the pitch.

Kayserispor, for its side, wants to offset losses in the last two games, coach Ertuğrul Sağlam told reporters.

“The Beşiktaş game may offer us a chance to give a start to good days,” said the former Beşiktaş legend for which he had played for as a striker. Sağlam blamed the two consecutive losses on bad luck.

On Sept. 25, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) returned a Kayseri offer to play the game at its own stadium since the Istanbul side has been struggling with grass problems on its pitch.

On Sept. 30, Fenerbahçe will take on Rizespor in an away match. With only seven points in the first six games, the Yellow Canaries are desperate for a win to stay close to the top of the league.

Rizespor is under the relegation line with only three points.

On Oct. 1, Başakşehir, which started the week at the top of the standings with 13 points will look to beat Yeni Malatyaspor at home to defend at least a one point difference with Galatasaray, its closest follower.

On Sept. 27, Black Sea’s Trabzonspor will take on Istanbul’s Kasımpaşa as Akhisarspor will visit Alanyaspor.

Sivasspor will take on Bursaspor at home on Sept. 30, when İzmir’s Göztepe will host Konyaspor.

At the closing game of the week, Antalyaspor will pay a visit to Ankaragücü, the sole first-tier team from the Turkish capital.