Super Lig Weekly: Trabzonspor and Fenerbahce clinch vital wins on big weekend in title race

[p]Ahead of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/trabzonspor/MmsYDc03/"]Trabzonspor[/a] vs [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/galatasaray/riaqqurF/"]Galatasaray[/a] on Saturday, there was some issues off the field, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cakir-ugurcan/p858Jtvs/"]Ugurcan Cakir[/a] - once captain of Trabzon and now goalkeeper at Galatasaray - receiving some torrid abuse on social media from a small number of fans.[/p][p]Of course, fan banter is normal and booing a former player whenever they touch the ball is totally harmless, but issues like this continue to plague football and cross the line.[/p][p]In typical Turkish football fashion, Trabzon management also accused Galatasaray of tapping up Ugurcan before his move this summer, as well as saying that the table-toppers stole [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nhaga-renato/xb3CAhyq/"]Renato Nhaga[/a] from them, when he was close to a move to the club in January.[/p][image alt="Galatasaray goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir" id="c7cdb171-46fd-4474-beba-e0fc8cf9bf8b" credit-line="AA/ABACA / Abaca Press / Profimedia" guid="b08755ea-e87a-4d08-bced-e2b2c589f347" original-width="1400" original-height="933" /][p]Once again, idiocy stealing the headlines before the game, which is sadly common in Turkey, highlighting cultural problems and why those outside of the country often have a chuckle at the Super Lig.[/p][p]Anyway, onto the game itself.[/p][p]With all this before the match, Trabzon fans were doubly pumped up, knowing that if they could help motivate their team to a win, they would enter the title race equation, truly demonstrating up the amazing job Fatih Tekke has done in charge.[/p][p]Galatasaray held a four points lead at the summit with a game in hand, so were in a very strong and dominant position. A win for them would pretty much wrap up the league, while a defeat would open the door for others.[/p][p]Trabzon came racing out the blocks, playing with tonnes of energy and enthusiasm, swarming Galatasaray.[/p][embed guid="1cf64a6f-49a0-44c5-b957-afd8917570b2" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U39kCei5CFE&t=425s" social-type="youtube" /][p]As a result, they took an early lead, with that man again, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/onuachu-paul/IyYJsXYg/"]Paul Onuachu[/a], heading home after four minutes. It was his 22nd goal of the Super Lig season, six ahead of his nearest competitor.[/p][p]Galatasaray started to grow into the game, but without [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/osimhen-victor/23YHG47R/"]Victor Osimhen[/a], who is set to miss the next few games with an arm injury, they lacked quality or cutting edge in the final third, and Trabzon were relatively comfortable.[/p][p]Two changes were made by Okan Buruk at half time as Galatasaray attempted to find a way back into the game. They were rewarded quickly, when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/singo-wilfried/Ym8dZot0/"]Wilfried Singo[/a] snuck in at the back host to volley in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/yilmaz-baris/8dwASoxi/"]Baris Alper Yilmaz[/a]'s cross just after the break. It was the defender's second goal in his last two league games.[/p][p]Galatasaray seemed to be taking control, but Trabzon hit back just after the hour mark. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nwakaeme-anthony/l64iqFY5/"]Anthony Nwakaeme[/a] put in a lovely ball from a free kick, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nwaiwu-chibuike/fgb6scPi/"]Chibuike Nwaiwu[/a] headed home superbly past Ugurcan in goal.[/p][p]The away side continued to have the ball and probe for the remainder of the game, but they just were unable to create anything of note.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/icardi-mauro/xKyjFkf6/"]Mauro Icardi[/a] looks a shadow of the player he once was and offers practically nothing in comparison to Osimhen, while they also missed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gomes-gabriel/OYlVjZg3/"]Gabriel Sara[/a], who was out with a small injury.[/p][p]In the end, Trabzon went on to claim a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/galatasaray-riaqqurF/trabzonspor-MmsYDc03/?mid=O2BovMKb"]massive 2-1 win[/a] over the three-time defending champions, and they didn't even have [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/muci-ernest/GhFHeiMu/"]Ernest Muci[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/batahov-arsenii/zBqCDQ4B/"]Arseniy Batagov[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/inao-oulai-christ/KK953yrm/"]Christ Inao Oulai[/a] or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/visca-edin/86gN3hhf/"]Edin Visca[/a] available.[/p][embed guid="6e242306-46af-4422-830f-4385db9277ce" url="https://x.com/Trabzonspor/status/2040526812472647769" social-type="twitter" /][p]There was a bit more controversy after the game, when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bardakci-abdulkerim/KKx4FhJ9/"]Abdulkerim Bardakci[/a] was sent off for showing aggression to a Trabzonspor youth player who came onto the pitch. Galatasaray claim that the player hurled insults at Abdulkerim, while Trabzon say he didn't and that Abdulkerim was the initiator. Classic.[/p][p]The victory saw them move just one point behind Galatasaray at the top, albeit having played a game more. Despite spending peanuts compared to the three Istanbul giants, they are in the title race, and they deserve massive credit for that.[/p][p]For Galatasaray, it was a flat performance, illustrating how reliant they are on Osimhen. They missed him desperately, and the way they want to play football completely unravels without him.[/p][p]However, they are still in pole position. They play their game in hand away to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/goztepe/0MJlDkrA/"]Goztepe[/a] on Wednesday, and can go four points clear with six games to go. It is no time to panic.[/p][h2]Fenerbahce edge Besiktas[/h2][p]So after Galatasaray's defeat, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/fenerbahce/MsbmracL/"]Fenerbahce[/a] had the chance to close in on the top two, if they were able to come out on top in their derby meeting with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/besiktas/IDmErJCR/"]Besiktas[/a] on Sunday.[/p][p]Besiktas have been improving under Sergen Yalcin as they look to rebuild and become title contenders next season, but their goal this campaign is just to secure a European spot.[/p][p]Fenerbahce were the better team for large portions of the contest, but their lack of a number nine was really telling. No focal point to make the ball stick, or be in the right place at the right time, was hurting them.[/p][p]As a result, the game looked destined for 0-0. Heading into the final few minutes, it seemed like Fenerbahce were set to miss their opportunity while Besiktas were going to pick up a valuable point.[/p][embed guid="e05edcf5-2300-431c-89cd-972aaff89814" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DVGuwQqHo4" social-type="youtube" /][p]But then, you guessed it, controversy! Who would have thought?[/p][p]Deep into added time, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nene-dorgeles/dYKp5yA4/"]Dorgeles Nene[/a] found himself in a good position running at goal, but Besiktas had a defender back covering.[/p][p]However, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/agbadou-emmanuel/fRbu2Opo/"]Emmanuel Agbadou[/a] decided to take a big gamble, diving in an attempt to win the ball.[/p][p]Nene went down, and a penalty was awarded.[/p][p]On replay, it looked like Agbadou got a chunk of the ball first, before also making contact with Nene. Did he make enough contact with the ball first, though? Potentially, but it is hard to say.[/p][p]But more importantly, the incident seemed to clearly take place outside of the penalty area. A foul on the edge of the box was probably the most logical outcome.[/p][p]It was a complicated decison though, and after initially thinking it definitely wasn't a penalty, I am not as certain anymore.[/p][p]Regardless, it was a rash and reckless tackle from Agbadou. That late in the game, when you have worked so hard for a point, with a defender covering, there was absolutely no need to give the referee a decision to make.[/p][p]After a long pause, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/akturkoglu-muhammed-kerem/UDQZylXj/"]Kerem Akturkoglu[/a] stepped up in the 11th minute of added time and slotted home to give his side a really [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/besiktas-IDmErJCR/fenerbahce-MsbmracL/?mid=b1yDPM55"]pivotal 1-0 win[/a].[/p][image alt="Fenerbahce celebrate their late winner" id="c85844d4-88ec-48a9-bd84-e1e082c4ec85" credit-line="ČTK / imago sportfotodienst / Seskimphoto" guid="f1e986c0-d985-42bc-8fd0-8f98020c08be" original-width="1400" original-height="933" /][p]Consequently, they moved level on points with Trabzon, just behind Galatasaray, and will be hoping for Goztepe to do them a favour on Wednesday.[/p][p]It is now a three-way battle for the title, which makes it absolutely compelling viewing for the neutral.[/p][image alt="Super Lig table" id="69df0318-8db4-42d1-ba08-9672c96b20d5" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="a38f00e9-5fbc-4fd5-aec2-e28b66dfc590" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][h2]Team of the Week[/h2][image alt="Team of the Week" id="9196eab7-7321-4ec8-ab20-f70e429c1c17" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="773560b8-56d3-43ad-a467-a1e09f69d13d" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Trabzon's Nwaiwu and Samunspor's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/holse-carlo/KxYEq4Vi/"]Carlo Holse[/a] are the Flashscore Players of the Week, according to our very own interal ratings system, with the latter bagging a brace in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/konyaspor-YazuCbCE/samsunspor-pSc6z7bf/?mid=2Zs4Rryg"]his side's 2-2 draw[/a] against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/konyaspor/YazuCbCE/"]Konyaspor[/a].[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/kasimpasa/dOlaIG4l/"]Kasimpasa[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/f-karagumruk/Cv7CWW8n/"]Karagumruk[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/antalyaspor/GAtxDHF9/"]Antalyaspor[/a] all have two players in this week's starting XI.[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/soccer/turkey/super-lig/"]Follow the Turkish Super Lig with Flashscore![/a][/h2]