With Fenerbahce sitting out this weekend’s fixtures, Galatasaray seized the opportunity to extend their lead at the summit of the Super Lig. In other news, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s unbeaten streak with Besiktas came to an abrupt end, while Trabzonspor’s defeat marked the departure of Senol Gunes from his managerial position.
Galatasaray’s form has been lacklustre, with only one win in their past six matches across all competitions, leading to a sense of unease among supporters.
Even though they remain four points clear at the top, fans have expressed worries over the team’s performances. A victory over Alanyaspor on Sunday would serve as a much-needed confidence booster, particularly with Fenerbahce not in action.
However, Galatasaray’s start to the match was far from ideal, as they fell behind after 23 minutes due to an explosive shot from Tonny Vilhena.
The two-time defending champions struggled to generate significant attacking play, appearing disjointed and reminiscent of their recent outings.
Manager Okan Buruk made adjustments at half-time to inject fresh energy into the team, and this gamble paid off as Galatasaray gradually took control of proceedings.
Baris Alper Yilmaz played a key role, with a long-range effort that led to an own goal by Fidan Aliti, before providing a brilliant cross for Victor Osimhen to nod home, securing a 2-1 triumph in the second half.
Osimhen, alongside Davinson Sanchez, was a standout performer in what was otherwise a subdued display. His relentless enthusiasm and athletic prowess allow him to create goal-scoring opportunities from seemingly impossible situations, often reaching balls that would elude most players.
A constant menace with his runs in behind defences and a formidable aerial threat in the box, he also has the knack for setting up his teammates, truly demonstrating the calibre of forward Galatasaray possess.
With 17 goals in the Super Lig this season, he trails top scorer Krzysztof Piatek by just one goal, and it would be unwise to bet against him clinching the Golden Boot this term.
Galatasaray continues to work on securing the funds needed to sign him outright in the summer, and given how pivotal he is to the team’s success currently, losing him would be a significant blow.
But that prospect is still months away. For now, he is doing everything possible to help Galatasaray secure their 25th Super Lig title. Their gap at the top has now swelled to seven points.
Switching focus to the other major Istanbul club, Besiktas has been riding high under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. With six consecutive wins across all competitions and remaining unbeaten in the league, they have regained confidence and will be hopeful of clinching a third-place finish this season.
On Monday evening, they faced off against Galatasaray legend Selcuk Inan’s Gaziantep. The 40-year-old Inan has done commendably since becoming manager in 2024, and was sure to pose a stern challenge for Besiktas.
In a shocking turn of events, Gaziantep ended Besiktas’ unbeaten league run, claiming a 2-1 victory despite finishing the last 20 minutes with just 10 men.
Besiktas initially took the lead after 30 minutes when Ciro Immobile, who has found life tough in Turkey recently, scored his first goal since January 11th from the penalty spot.
Nevertheless, Gaziantep never gave up and managed to draw level through the highly impressive defender Arda Kizildag.
Despite receiving a red card in the 77th minute, Gaziantep persevered, with Furkan Soyalp showing poise to net the winning goal just minutes from the final whistle.
This was a fantastic achievement for Gaziantep and a sobering reminder for Besiktas. It’s apparent that Ole’s side fares better against teams that adopt a more open, attacking style. Inan was tactically astute, opting to absorb pressure and strike on the counter.
Besiktas, on the other hand, seems to struggle against teams with a more conservative approach. Many of their players thrive in open spaces. Rafa Silva stands out as their most creative talent, yet even he tends to finish attacks rather than facilitate for others.
To address this deficiency, they may need to recruit a player capable of providing creativity from deeper positions, or find a striker who can act as a disruption and enable others to shine. At this point, Immobile might be deemed insufficiently mobile for the role.
Trabzonspor welcomes Fatih Tekke – at last
It’s been a tumultuous year for Trabzonspor, a club that traditionally enters every season with high hopes. Finding themselves languishing in 15th place early in the campaign forced them to part ways with Abdullah Avci, as they appeared set to appoint then-Alanyaspor manager Fatih Tekke.
Fatih Tekke, aged 47 and born in Trabzon, devoted much of his playing career to the club. He demonstrated a keen desire to manage, clearly indicating to Alanya that he wished to make the move.
However, Trabzonspor hesitated, opting for a familiar face in the form of 72-year-old Senol Gunes, which deeply disappointed Tekke, who had already resigned his position at Alanyaspor.
Senol Gunes is a monumental figure in Turkish football, both as a player and a manager. Like Tekke, he hails from Trabzon and had a storied playing career as a goalkeeper at the club.
He was pivotal in helping Trabzon secure six of their seven Super Lig titles between 1975 and 1984, earning legendary status among the supporters.
As a manager, he led Besiktas to two Super Lig titles and was at the helm of the Turkish national team that reached the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup. He also claimed the Turkish Cup and Super Cup with Trabzon in 2010.
This marked Gunes’ fifth appointment as Trabzonspor’s manager. While he initially lifted the team’s fortunes, it was far from a vintage performance.
Following a 2-1 home defeat to Hatayspor over the weekend, compounded by a prior 1-0 loss to Konyaspor, Gunes’ time at the club came to an end as they found themselves in 11th place.
In response, Trabzonspor decided it was best for Gunes to part ways with the club, finally appointing Tekke. A decision perhaps delaying for six months, yet better late than never.
Fatih’s delight at the appointment conveys that good things come to those who wait.
As a competitive manager, Gunes had seen better days, while Tekke promises to inject more modern philosophies into the team. Interestingly, Gunes has remained with the club in an ambassadorial capacity and was present when Tekke signed his contract.
Tekke’s success at Alanyaspor was a significant factor in Trabzon’s interest. In the 2022/23 season, Alanya narrowly avoided relegation by a single point. When he took charge three months into the 2023/24 season, he guided them to an impressive eighth-place finish.
Fans of Trabzonspor are delighted with Tekke’s appointment and will rally behind their local hero. However, he has a formidable task ahead of him, as he aims to restore the club to competitive status and push for the upper echelons of the table.
Highlight of the Week
This week brought a unique and touching moment as a Besiktas fan proposed to his partner during Monday’s match. He was overjoyed when she accepted, and he celebrated by leading the crowd in a chant.
Team of the Week
Three players from Sivasspor made the cut for this week’s team after their 3-1 victory over Goztepe, notably striker Bekir Turac Boke, who netted a brace.
Despite having only 20 minutes on the pitch, Antalyaspor striker Adolfo Gaich made a significant impact by scoring two last-gasp goals in the 90th and 97th minutes to clinch a dramatic 2-1 win against Rizespor.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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