Super Lig Weekly: Galatasaray grab statement win at Besiktas as Fenerbahce cling on in race

[p]Heading into the final stretch of the season, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/galatasaray/riaqqurF/"]Galatasaray[/a] faced arguably their toughest game left, with a huge derby clash away at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/besiktas/IDmErJCR/"]Besiktas[/a].[/p][p]For the big three teams in Turkey, winning away at their Istanbul rivals is always a massive feat and extremely difficult, no matter the form any of them are in.[/p][p]Prior to the game on Saturday, Galatasaray had just one win in their last 10 at Besiktas, demonstrating the size of the task at hand.[/p][p]But Galatasaray asserted their dominance from the off, showcasing the vast quality of their team compared to their opponents.[/p][p]They knocked on the door all throughout the first half, keeping the home fans quiet. All Besiktas could do was try to influence the game by consistently diving and running to the referee every two minutes - led by captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kokcu-orkun/KYsUHUd0/"]Orkun Kokcu[/a] - in an attempt to get Galatasaray players booked.[/p][p]And five minutes before the interval, the three-time defending champions took a deserved lead.[/p][embed guid="b15ee2d2-b661-4cd8-8a43-8497da81c4d6" url="https://x.com/GalatasaraySK/status/2030559278935785894" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sane-leroy/GlTyfr8U/"]Leroy Sane[/a] put in a great ball from the right, whipped in tantalisingly for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/osimhen-victor/23YHG47R/"]Victor Osimhen[/a] to head home with aplomb.[/p][p]Besiktas came out from the break with a bit more impetus, but were still struggling to really get a foothold in the game. However, they were given a lifeline just after the hour mark when Sane - who was enduring a really torrid game - was sent off.[/p][p]The German has had a mixed time since joining from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bayern-munich/nVp0wiqd/"]Bayern Munich[/a] in the summer. He has moments of quality, but lots of bad moments too. [/p][p]When he's having a poor game, he consistently gives the ball away in awkward areas, and his body language can frustrate fans because he doesn't offer much defensively. [/p][p]To be fair to the German, it was an awful decision to send him off, once again displaying the dismal calibre of refereeing in the country.[/p][embed guid="41f57ea9-94ba-4fc3-9890-cb37f7e7673f" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0LEXg_834Y" social-type="youtube" /][p]For the next 30 minutes, it was a backs-to-the-wall job for the away side, as Besiktas took control. Yet despite a few good chances, Galatasaray shut them out really well, showing a side of themselves they don't often display.[/p][p]They defended exceptionally and put their bodies on the line, led by the brilliant [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bardakci-abdulkerim/KKx4FhJ9/"]Abdulkerim Bardakci[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jakobs-ismail/0YpRCTwo/"]Ismail Jakobs[/a]. Goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cakir-ugurcan/p858Jtvs/"]Ugurcan Cakir[/a] was imperious, too, continuing to prove that he is worth every penny of the €30 million Galatasaray spent to bring him in from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/trabzonspor/MmsYDc03/"]Trabzonspor[/a].[/p][p]So they hung on for a very impressive and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/besiktas-IDmErJCR/galatasaray-riaqqurF/?mid=jFb5m8yi"]efficient 1-0 win[/a], which is a huge moment in the season. It was also Besiktas' first loss in 17 games.[/p][p]The celebrations after the game demonstrated the significance of the occasion, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/fenerbahce/MsbmracL/"]Fenerbahce[/a] would have been hoping that this would be one of the games in which they dropped points.[/p][embed guid="aa03ced8-6f39-4b7b-b597-e89326ae1b66" url="https://x.com/GalatasaraySK/status/2030667871328624732" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Nervy Fenerbahce hang in title race[/h2][p]With the gap up to seven points, Fenerbahce had no room for error. Any dropped points from them could prove fatal, as they look to remain in the title race.[/p][p]At home to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/samsunspor/pSc6z7bf/"]Samsunspor[/a], the nerves and tension were clear to see throughout the stadium. A frantic opening 25 minutes saw [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mouandilmadji-marius/AkJnIzsM/"]Marius[/a] give Samsunspor the lead, before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/guendouzi-matteo/6ZesE86o/"]Matteo Guendouzi[/a] - who had his best game in a Fenerbahce shirt - struck back.[/p][p]Marius scored quickly after, though, to put the away side up again.[/p][embed guid="35a61b2c-2665-4db6-bf8b-853d043eb655" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS6-0CDbKjw" social-type="youtube" /][p]Samsunspor were the better team for the majority of the game. They had the best chances and looked like the team who were trying to win the title. Frankly, they should have been well ahead in the second half.[/p][p]But in football, especially against teams with quality, you get punished for not being ruthless.[/p][p]With a couple of minutes left of normal time, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/asensio-marco/GQMMQo6m/"]Marco Asensio[/a] played a lovely ball to substitute [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nene-dorgeles/dYKp5yA4/"]Dorgeles Nene[/a] to slot home.[/p][p]The momentum was with them, and out of sheer desperation, they snatched [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/fenerbahce-MsbmracL/samsunspor-pSc6z7bf/?mid=WhQH9bhg"]a 3-2 victory[/a] in stoppage time, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cherif-sidiki/tSVHHLjn/"]Sidiki Cherif[/a] scored from Asensio's corner. [/p][p]A turgid, worrying display from Fenerbahce, yet in the space of a few minutes at the end of the game, they kept themselves in the hunt.[/p][embed guid="f929017d-5b2d-4bfc-8c44-83c0b62eb83e" url="https://x.com/Fenerbahce_EN/status/2030728959260766501" social-type="twitter" /][p]They were close to going three straight league games without a win, and coach Domenico Tedesco will have to get them firing again in crunch time.[/p][p]Performances must improve, but they also need to keep their emotions in check. Every goal they score feels like they've scored a winner in a Champions League final, and every goal they concede is like they've lost in the last minute of a World Cup final.[/p][p]They feel too on edge and lackadaisical, while Galatasaray seem to have hit cruise control. [/p][p]Yet they remain four points behind, and have to go away to Galatasaray next month. Can they somehow turn this title race around? [/p][image alt="Super Lig table" id="6f416f76-d650-4c3f-98c7-a68fe6f1e249" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="16322613-6cf4-4799-b63c-4a682e5b191d" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][h2]Team of the Week[/h2][image alt="Team of the Week" id="e5e5237e-0028-46a6-bb9e-791933412795" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="457c0667-d501-4d49-93f9-8577eb508588" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Guendouzi is the Flashscore Player of the Week, according to our very own internal ratings system, after his excellent display for Fenerbahce.[/p][p]Trabzonspor trio [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pina-wagner/O8Oxw6vd/"]Wagner Pina[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/inao-oulai-christ/KK953yrm/"]Christ Inao Oulai[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/onuachu-paul/IyYJsXYg/"]Paul Onuachu[/a] also all make the team after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/kayserispor-8pwUEwoc/trabzonspor-MmsYDc03/?mid=Awx9BKNt"]a 3-1 win[/a] at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/kayserispor/8pwUEwoc/"]Kayserispor[/a]. The latter netted a brace as he hit 20 goals for the Super Lig season, moving four goals clear at the top of the goalscorer standings.[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/soccer/turkey/super-lig/"]Follow the Turkish Super Lig with Flashscore[/a][/h2]