Turkish Super Lig Weekly: Beşiktaş Hands Galatasaray Their First Defeat, Reviving the Title Race

It was a disappointing return to club football for Super Lig frontrunners Galatasaray, who experienced their first defeat of the season against city rivals Besiktas. This outcome allowed Fenerbahce to re-enter the title race following their triumph over Bodrumspor.

The highly anticipated derby was significant for several reasons. For Galatasaray, it represented their most challenging match of the season, and a win would have taken them closer to clinching a third consecutive title.

Besiktas had the opportunity to not only inflict Galatasaray’s first league defeat but also to achieve a vital victory under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer—an outcome that would bolster their chances of finishing in the top three.

Besiktas came out firing, taking an early lead through Rafa Silva. The Portuguese forward capitalised on an abundance of space down the left wing, before Davinson Sanchez’s poor defending allowed Silva to find the net at the near post.

As the match progressed, Besiktas looked poised to increase their lead. However, Przemyslaw Frankowski’s controversial red card for Galatasaray, issued for allegedly denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, changed the momentum despite the ball moving away from the goal and two defenders in cover.

This turn of events worked to Galatasaray’s advantage. Besiktas had previously faltered against opponents with nine or ten men, struggling to break down more defensively organised teams, which Galatasaray had not been at that point.

However, after going down to ten men, Besiktas lost their momentum, lacking the same attacking veracity. This allowed Galatasaray to regroup, and Lucas Torreira delivered a stunning long-range goal just before half-time to equalise.

The second half proved to be tamer, lacking the intensity of the first. That was until Gedson Fernandes took charge.

The midfielder capitalised on a poorly struck shot from Joao Mario and further weak defending from Galatasaray to net the goal that guaranteed Besiktas a 2-1 victory.

In the final minutes, Besiktas’ Semih Kilicsoy was sent off after what could only be described as a soft red card. Curiously, the referee did not issue a card at the time, but the VAR officials deemed it worthy of ejection—a clearly questionable decision.

So, what does this outcome signify?

This feels like a pivotal moment for Besiktas. Handing Galatasaray their first loss of the season will undoubtedly provide a boost in confidence and unite the fans behind their team and manager after a challenging campaign.

While the squad has its flaws and must be active in the transfer market, securing a result like this is monumental. Third-placed Samsunspor also faced an unexpected defeat this weekend, shrinking Besiktas’ gap to four points with a game in hand.

Silva and Fernandes have truly emerged as key players, consistently shining in each match. The talented Portuguese pair will be invaluable assets for Besiktas next season as they look to refresh their squad.

On the other hand, Galatasaray will likely be more troubled by the nature of their defeat rather than the loss itself.

It was inevitable that they would drop a game eventually this season. Still, the glaring absence of a coherent plan or style recently is concerning, as players seem increasingly disoriented on the pitch.

With a six-point lead—albeit with a game in hand—and a better head-to-head record against Fenerbahce, they remain in contention for the title as just eight matches remain.

However, Galatasaray has only managed two wins from their last seven outings in all competitions, with key players like Gabriel Sara struggling for form and new additions Frankowski and Alvaro Morata finding it tough to adapt to the system.

Manager Okan Buruk is under increasing pressure from supporters, and he must find a way to revitalise his team. Fortunately for him, they will face Fenerbahce this Wednesday in the Turkish Cup!

Fenerbahce cruise to victory

The day prior to the match between Besiktas and Galatasaray, Fenerbahce returned to action with a comfortable win against lowly Bodrumspor.

Bodrum had been in excellent form, making strides towards safety without conceding a single goal in their last seven matches across all competitions. This remarkable streak ended against Fenerbahce, who secured a straightforward 4-2 victory.

Goals from Oguz Aydin, Milan Skriniar, Sebastian Szymanski, and Anderson Talisca ensured the win, with Aydin once again emerging as the standout performer.

The 24-year-old winger, who was signed from Alanyspor in the summer, has consistently delivered top performances to become an essential part of the squad.

His impressive displays earned him two starting appearances for Turkey during the international break, where he excelled, providing three assists in two Nations League matches against Hungary. Reports in Turkey suggest that several European clubs are now tracking him.

Importantly for Fenerbahce, Galatasaray will not play this weekend, allowing them the chance to cut the lead to just three points. However, a challenging fixture awaits them at home against Trabzonspor, where they can afford no missteps at this critical juncture of the season.

Highlight of the Week

Adolfo Gaich made a memorable impact off the bench, clinching a late 2-1 victory for Antalyaspor over Alanyaspor, thanks to a monumental blunder from goalkeeper Ertugrul Taskiran.

Team of the Week

The Besiktas duo Silva and Fernandes also feature in the Team of the Week for their exceptional performances, while Skriniar secures his spot in the centre of defence.