Title contenders take on relegation battlers

ISTANBUL

Beşiktaş defender Ersan Gülüm celebrates his dramatic last-minute goal against Eskişehirspor in the Spor Toto Super League. The Black Eagles face lowly Çaykur Rizespor in this weekend’s Super League round 25 meeting. AA photo

Leader Fenerbahçe hosts Kayseri Erciyesspor as Beşiktaş visits Çaykur Rizespor in two Spor Toto Super League games between title challengers and relegation battlers this weekend.

Fenerbahçe, which leads the league with 51 points from 23 games, hosts Kayseri Erciyesspor, hoping for a quieter match-up.

The Yellow Canaries had to overcome adversity away to Trabzonspor last week, in a game that was halted after 55 minutes of play due to objects thrown onto the pitch. They were leading 1-0 thanks to a goal from Emanuel Emenike and are likely to be awarded a 3-0 win. The final result will be determined by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF).

Fenerbahçe, however, may lose top spot before its kick-off on March 16, with second-place Galatasaray visiting Kardemir Karabükspor in the weekend’s opening game on March 14. Galatasaray started the round 25 with 48 points.

The Fenerbahçe-Kayseri Erciyesspor game starts at 7 p.m.

Earlier that day, fourth-place Sivasspor, with 36 points, hosts Trabzonspor, which is having a troublesome season and currently sits seventh with 34 points, in a game between two teams chasing Europa League spots.

The game starts at 4 p.m.

Also on March 16, Torku Konyaspor plays against Gaziantepspor at 1 p.m. and Eskişehirspor takes on Elazığspor at 1:30 p.m.

Eagles aim to maintain momentum

Beşiktaş takes on Çaykur Rizespor, hoping to maintain momentum after getting a dramatic win last week.

The Black Eagles won away to Eskişehirspor with a last-minute goal from defender Ersan Gülüm last week, reiterating their title credentials. The post-game, however, was highlighted by coach Slaven Bilic’s fury as the Croatian stormed out of the press conference, claiming that his side was not being given equal treatment by referees.

Çaykur Rizespor is currently in the red zone, sitting 16th with 25 points. The game starts at 7 p.m.
Another relegation battler, Antalyaspor, which is only separated from Çaykur Rizespor on goal difference, visits Akhisar Belediye Gençlik.

The Aegean minnows are having a great season, and with 35 points at sixth, the club is chasing a berth in next year’s European competitions, which would mark a historic first for the small-town club.
The game starts at 4 p.m.

Kasımpaşa, fifth and level on points with Akhisar, hosts Gençlerbirliği at 1:30 p.m.

The 25th round of Spor Toto Super League will wrap up with Kayserispor vs. Bursaspor at 8 p.m. on March 17.