Beşiktaş out to defend driver’s seat

ISTANBUL

Leader Beşiktaş will have a chance to bolster its lead ahead of Medipol Başakşehir when it takes the field in the Spor Toto Super League this weekend with just three weeks left in the year.

Istanbul clubs Başakşehir and Beşiktaş have led the way through much of the season and are now entering the most crucial segment of the season.

Beşiktaş, which defeated Bursaspor 2-0 last weekend to return to top spot over Başakşehir, will face Istanbul rival Kasımpaşa at home on May 20 at 7 p.m.

Başakşehir, on the other hand, will face a tough challenge in an away game against Trabzonspor, which has enjoyed one of the best records in the second half of the season, on May 21 at 7 p.m.

Title-chasing Başakşehir defeated Fenerbahçe in a dramatic penalty-shootout late on May 17 in the Ziraat Turkish Cup to advance to the final.

Başakşehir will face Konyaspor in the cup final, which will be played on May 31.    
  
On May 20, 16th-placed Çaykur Rizespor will face 17th-placed Gaziantepspor at home. The match will seal the relegation fate of at least one of the clubs. Still on May 20, 15th-placed Bursaspor will face Antalyaspor in an away game. 

The latter defeated Fenerbahçe in Istanbul last weekend. A point will be enough to guarantee sputtering Bursaspor safety.

On the closing day of the week, May 22, Fenerbahçe will go to Ankara to take on Gençlerbirliği at 7 p.m., while Akhisar Belediyespor will square off against Alanyaspor at the same time.