Turkish Super Lig Weekly: Talisca’s Stunning Hat-Trick Leads Fenerbahce to Victory

With Galatasaray having the weekend off, Fenerbahce seized the opportunity to reduce the gap at the top of the table to three points, though they were faced with the potentially challenging clash against Trabzonspor, now managed by Fatih Tekke.

The stakes were high for Fenerbahce, particularly after their mid-week disappointment of being eliminated from the Turkish Cup by their rivals, a match that also featured the unusual incident of Jose Mourinho pinching the nose of Galatasaray’s coach, Okan Buruk.

For the first half, Fenerbahce’s performance lacked bite, and they were taken aback just before half-time when Denis Dragus handed Trabzonspor the lead.

Things looked bleak for Fenerbahce, but the tide turned early in the second half when they were awarded a rather soft penalty after Bright Osayi-Samuel was adjudged to have been fouled.

Anderson Talisca, who had come on at half-time, took the penalty and converted, setting the stage for a dominant display from that moment on.

Talisca continued to be the standout performer. Milan Skriniar netted his second goal in as many league outings to put Fenerbahce ahead 2-1 in the 60th minute, and Talisca sealed the deal with two additional goals, completing his hat-trick with a stunning volley, culminating in a 4-1 victory.

Having joined from Al Nassr in January, Talisca is well-regarded in Turkey.

The talented forward enjoyed a successful loan spell at Besiktas, scoring 37 goals and providing 14 assists over 80 appearances.

Though blessed with a brilliant left foot and significant technical skill, Talisca has yet to fully realise the potential many saw in him during his formative years at Benfica.

Concerns about his attitude and a perceived lack of work ethic have seen him ply his trade outside Europe’s top leagues for much of his career, often opting for stints in China and Saudi Arabia.

Since his arrival at Fenerbahce, his form has been somewhat underwhelming, but supporters will be hoping that his performance against Trabzonspor can rejuvenate his season. If he can regain his top form, he will become an essential figure for the remainder of the campaign.

This vital win for Fenerbahce has trimmed Galatasaray’s lead at the top to just three points. However, it feels like more than just a three-point deficit, as the head-to-head record would see Galatasaray triumph if the two clubs were to finish level on points.

Regardless, it remains a three-point gap, and with only eight matches left, Fenerbahce still has a shot at clinching their first Super Lig title in over a decade.

Besiktas Snatch Last-Minute Equaliser

In a similar vein to Fenerbahce, Besiktas were dumped out of the Turkish Cup last week, succumbing to a 3-1 defeat at home to Goztepe. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would have been keen for a response in their match against Burak Yilmaz’s Kasimpasa on Monday night.

However, the first half was a disaster for them.

Kasimpasa took an early lead in the 15th minute thanks to Mortadha Ben Ouanes, and things got worse for Besiktas when Tayyip Talha Sanuc was sent off in the 44th minute, leaving them a man down.

Despite both sides having their chances, it looked as though the match would finish 1-0 to the home side until Besiktas were awarded a penalty in the 90th minute. Gedson Fernandes stepped up to convert and rescue a point for his team with a 1-1 draw.

It’s worth mentioning that the prevalence of red cards and penalties in the Super Lig can be attributed partly to fierce rivalries, but mostly due to a low threshold for these decisions. Instances of penalties and red cards awarded in this league are often ones you wouldn’t see anywhere else.

While I wish referees in Turkey would adopt a stricter approach and let the game flow more freely, the introduction of VAR, combined with the anxieties and volatility present among players and managers, has made this increasingly unlikely.

While the result may not have been what Besiktas had hoped for, given the circumstances, they will likely accept it.

However, one player who will be feeling the heat is Ciro Immobile.

The Italian international joined Besiktas over the summer and began his tenure with a flurry of eight goals in his first eight matches, many of which were from the penalty spot.

Yet his form has significantly dropped since then, managing just three goals in his last 14 appearances, and his contributions outside of scoring have been minimal, especially at 35 years of age.

It’s an area where Besiktas will likely need to seek improvements during the upcoming summer transfer window.

Highlight of the Week

Talisca’s remarkable volley from the edge of the box to complete his hat-trick for Fenerbahce undoubtedly stands out as the moment of the week.

Team of the Week

Joining Talisca in the team are his Fenerbahce teammates Skriniar and Allan Saint-Maximin, along with Gedson Fernandes from Besiktas.

Three defenders from Gaziantep also made the cut after their side managed a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Goztepe despite facing 20 shots and a staggering expected goals tally of 2.33. Goalkeeper Mustafa Bozan’s performance was pivotal, notably after saving a penalty.