Turkish Super Lig preview: Top four fight heats up
While most football continues to remain on the substitute’s bench for a few weeks, the action over in Turkey continues.
The Turkish Super Lig is scheduled to go ahead with a full round of games this weekend, albeit behind closed doors.
But assuming the games do go ahead, we’ve picked out all the key stats – and odds of course – right here …
The current standings
It’s tight at the top with just eight rounds of the season remaining.
Just four points separate the top four. Trabzonspor are top on goal difference – Crystal Palace loanee Alexsander Sorloth has fired in 19 league goals for the side – but Istanbul Basaksehir are currently the form outfit within the leading pack.
Basaksehir, runners-up twice in the past three seasons, are three points ahead of reigning champions and Turkish behemoths Galatasaray, with surprise package Sivasspor still very much in contention in fourth despite two defeats in five games.
This weekend’s fixtures
Friday
Fenerbahce, struggling to get on terms with the leaders this season, get the weekend underway at home to bottom side Kayserispor at 17:00 on Friday night.
The 19-time champions have failed to win their last seven Super Lig games, but are 2/7 favourites for a much-needed three points.
Saturday
Four games are set to go ahead on Saturday, including fourth-place Sivasspor at home to Denizlispor. The Sivas side are the only team with an unbeaten home record this term, and they’re 1/2 for another three points on home soil.
Saturday’s evening game sees Besiktas host Antalyaspor. Like Fenerbahce, Besiktas are slightly off the pace this season, but a run of one defeat in seven means they’re not out of title contention yet.
They sit fifth, nine points adrift, and are 4/9 to continue their recent upswing in form with three more points.
Sunday
We could see plenty of drama on Sunday, with three of the top four in action.
Galatasaray are 2/3 for a win away at Rizespor. Fatih Terim’s have been on a blistering run of late, racking up with eight wins and two draws in their last 10 league games.
That could up the pressure on Trabzonspor and Baskesehir when they play later in the day.
Trabzonspor are 11/10 for a big three points, but they’re away at eight-placed outfit Gostepe. The Izmir side could be a danger, having already beaten Galatasaray and Besiktas at home this term.
Baseksehir might not have it so easy either, when they host sixth-placed Alanyaspor. Last season’s runners-up are 3/4 in the match betting, but the visitors have only lost one of their last five away league games – and they boast the second tightest defence in the Super Lig.
Full fixtures:
Fenerbahce v Kayserispor – 17:00 Friday
Gaziantep v Ankaragucu – 11:00 Saturday
Sivasspor v Denizilspor – 14:00 Saturday
Yeni Malatyspor v Kasimpasa – 14:00 Saturday
Besiktas v Antalyspor – 17:00 Saturday
Genclerbirligi v Konyaspor – 10:30 Sunday
Caykur Rezespor v Galatasaray – 13:00 Sunday
Goztepe AS v Trabzonspor – 16:00 Sunday
Istanbul Baseksehir v Alanyaspor – 16:00 Sunday
View the latest Turkish Super Lig odds.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication.
