Lions extend winning run to six games

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Brazilian midfielder Felipe Melo (L) scored the opening goal during Galatasaray’s 2-0 win over Gençlerbirliği. AA photo

Two second-half goals helped Galatasaray beat Gençlerbirliği to extend its lead in the Spor Toto Super League on March 10.

Midfielders Felipe Melo and Selçuk İnan were spot-on as the Istanbul team posted its sixth win in a row and managed to ensure it would enter next week’s Istanbul derby in the best shape possible.
Galatasaray has 69 points from 30 games while second-place Fenerbahçe has 60 points ahead of March 17’s big matchup, the latest clash in a century-old rivalry.

With four weeks to go in the regular season, the match will be of crucial importance in the two teams’ title race but will hardly be definitive due to this year’s new playoff system.

The top four teams will enter a championship playoff with their points halved.

“It is normal that our fans got in the mood. They are reveling in the joy of topping the standings in the regular season,” coach Fatih Terim said after the win over Gençlerbirliği. “But for me and for my team, nothing is done yet. We have work to do. We need to be serious.”

Fenerbahçe continued its chase behind Galatasaray with a comfortable 2-0 win over Ankaragücü on the opening day of round 30 on March 9.

Senegalese striker Moussa Sow scored his fourth goal in six games and midfielder Mehmet Topuz got his name on the score sheet.