Football Results

Two teams which ended previous season at first two places in the table will meet in the second match of the 26th round of the Turkish Super Lig that is played in Istanbul. Before the match both teams lag behind leading Galatasaray by three points. Their last two head-to-head played at Besiktas stadium had ended as 1-1 draw, while last year Basaksehir won in front of its fans by 3-1.

Basaksehir

However, team led by manager Avci is shaken ahead of coming match with Besiktas after they lost by 14th-placed Alanyaspor by even 4-1. In that way Basaksehir’s backlog behind leading Galata has again increased to three points, while in the meantime reigning champions Beskitas has equalised with them in number of points, and it is more and more clear that this team will not be able to defend the title of Turkish champion.

True, Basaksehir still has the situation in its hands but if we have in mind that it had two big mishaps recently, when they lost at home to Fenerbahce and only drew with Gencelerbirligi, it is questionable what they can do against very good Besiktas, especially if we know now many problems Avci has with absences. Due to injuries the Sunday’s derby will skip midfielder Turan and forward Adebayor, while stopper Epureanu and midfielder Emre cannot play due to accrued yellow cards.

Probable lineups Istanbul Basaksehir: Babacan – Caicara, Attamah, da Costa, Clichy – Inler, Tekdemir – Visca, Mossoro, Frei – Bajic

Besiktas

The city derby comes for the reigning Turkish champions after home defeat 3-1 by German Bayern suffered in the 2nd leg of the Champions League round of 16, but it was clear after their match in Munich where Besiktas lost by even 5-0 that this team should refocus on the domestic competitions, and that was exactly what Besiktas did it won next three league matches, including one against great city rival Fenerbahce. Besiktas drew 2-2 with the same team in the 1st leg of the Turkish Cup semi-finals.

However, it is far more important for manager Gunes players that they won Fener in the league as they overtaken them in the table and together with Basaksehir they have three points more than they. On the other hand, their backlog behind leading Galatasaray is exactly the same. Because of that, Besiktas fans believe that their team will play to win Basaksehir, regardless that out of action are injured defenders Pepe, Tosic and Nukan, and midfielder Tore, as well as suspended forward Quaresma.

Probable lineups Besiktas: Fabri – Gonul, Medel, Vida, Adriano – Hutchinson, Arslan – Lens, Talisca, Babel – Negredo

Verdict:

Given that both teams are still racing for the title of Turkish champion as they have just three points fewer than leading Galatasary, it is quite logical to play offensively their head-to-head, and with an objective to win all three points.

Pick:  Asian handicap 0 Besiktas 1.67 - 67/100 @1XBet