Black Eagles take on Antalyaspor in league

ISTANBUL

Beşiktaş attacker Olcay Şahan (R) vies for the ball against Galatasaray goalkeeper Fernando Muslera during the two Istanbul rivals’ meeting. DHA Photo

Beşiktaş takes on Antalyaspor tonight, hoping to bounce back from a Spor Toto Super League defeat against one of its greatest rivals. The Black Eagles, who suffered a 1-0 reverse to cross-town foes Galatasaray last week, hope to reignite their chase for the league crown against the Mediterranean outfit.

Fenerbahçe leads the league with 48 points with 12 matches to go, while Galatasaray is on 44 points and Beşiktaş is third with 42. With both of its rivals facing relegation battlers – Fener will meet Gençlerbirliği as Galatasaray visits Çaykur Rizespor on the weekend – Beşiktaş cannot afford to drop more points against the southern side.

Beşiktaş will see familiar face in the Antalyaspor dugout, as the club is coached by former Black Eagles player and coach Samet Aybaba.

Antalyaspor is struggling, hovering just three points above the relegation line. 

Elsewhere, Akhisar Belediye Gençlik visits Bursaspor in a game between two mid-table clubs. Akhisar has 32 points, while Bursaspor has 31, sitting eighth and 10th, respectively.  
Both games start at 8 p.m.