GALATASARAY WINS THE DERBY MATCH IN TURKEY....

Galatasaray players celebrate their 1-0 win over archrivals Fenerbahce with their fans after their Turkish Super League derby soccer match at Ali Sami Yen Stadium in Istanbul April 27, 2008.(REUTERS)

Galatasary beat Fenerbahce 1-0 in a derby game in Istanbul on Sunday night to grab a serious advantage to win the Turkcell Super League title two weeks before the end of the season.

Galatasaray's lone goal came from Nonda in the first half.

A HUGE MISTAKE BY FENERBAHCE'S GOALKEEPER
VOLKAN DEMIREL. COST THE GOAL AND THE TOP SPOT ....
GALATASARAY ON TOP OF THE TURKCELL SUPER LEAGUE WITH 73 POINTS...FENERBHACE AND SIVASSPOR FOLLOWS WITH 70 POINTS.

"SUPER SATURDAY" BELONGS TO SIVASSPOR!....

SIVASSPOR SHARES THE TOP SPOT BEFORE THE DERBY MATCH ON SUNDAY.

RIZESPOR AND MANISASPOR BITES THE DUST !....

Those of you who follow this web site regularly know, I have said Sivaspor was no fluke..... I have called them the" sleeper team" in the league.
Well, they just beat another team, in away match, to share the top spot with 70 points, before the biggest derby match of the year, and maybe the decade...
First of the ball, I have never witness this!....three teams,dead lock at 70 points. The derby match becomes much important on Sunday now!...

A draw won't help both teams at all...that will give, a huge advantage to Sivasspor. There is two more rounds in the league after this weekend..

Next weekend's Sivasspor v Galatasaray match will be very important one , in any case!..... Sivasspor has a really good chance to play in the Champions League next season if they beat Galatasaray at home......

On the other hand , at the bottom, After Kasimpasa, Manisspor and Caykur Rizespor will relegate this year from the league.... Manispor and Caykur Rizespor both has 29 points. . Even if they win their last two matches , there won't be any hope fro them.....Because, the next close teams to them are with 35 points.....I am sure Konyaspor and Gencclerbirligi could earn one point in two matches....

So, Super Saturday belong to Sivaspor .......now we have to hold our breath for another day and wait for the derby match...........

Turkcell Super League Saturday results....

Kasimpasa 2- 2 Ankaragucu
Kayserispor 3 - 0 Caykur Rizespor
Denizlispor 1- 2 Sivasspor
Vestel Manisaspor 2- 0 Konyaspor
Gaziantepspor 1- 1 Trabzonspor
Besiktas 3-0 Bursaspor
Genclerbirligi 2-1 Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor
Ankaraspor 1- 0 Genclerbirligi OFTAS Spor

FIFA.COM:Title at stake in Istanbul derby

To say that Turkey is football-crazy is almost a cliché. Ever since the country finished third at the FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan 2002, the Turks' passion for the game has been universally acknowledged. And yet even the fervour for the national team is nothing compared with the excitement generated by the Istanbul derby between
the country's two most successful clubs, Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.

As is often the way with derbies, beating your arch-rivals can be more important than winning the title as far as the fans are concerned, but for this 360th clash between the two teams, there is more than mere pride at stake. The winner will go top of the Super Lig, with Fener currently leading by the tightest of margins, one ahead on goal difference.

The atmosphere is sure to be electric at the Ali Sami Yen stadium on Sunday. "When you go to Galatasaray, they tell you 'welcome to hell'," recalls former Gala coach Eric Gerets. "During a derby, you have goosebumps from start to finish. You get involved in sport just to experience moments like that. I've coached and played in quite a few countries, but that definitely was another world.

we go to the Ali Sami Yen and play our usual game we'll have nothing to fear. We're physically and mentally ready to beat Galatasaray
Fenerbahce goalkeeper Volkan Demirel

It is a world which Fenerbahce goalkeeper Volkan Demirel knows well as he confidently anticipates his ninth derby. "It's never easy to prepare for a derby, but our team is playing so well and we've got so many players capable of scoring that we will end up on the score sheet," says the Sari Kanaryalar (yellow canaries) custodian. "I f we go to the Ali Sami Yen and play our usual game we'll have nothing to fear. We're physically and mentally ready to beat Galatasaray."

Cimbom, as Galatasaray fans call their club, had been clear in first place but lost both top spot and their coach in one fell swoop three weeks ago. German tactician Karl Heinz Feldkamp resigned the day after Gala's disappointing 0-0 draw against Gaziantepspor, which allowed Fener to move past them into first - Cevat Guler subsequently taking over the coaching reins. A win for Galatasaray would give them a vital three-point lead over their fierce rivals with just two games remaining and prove a decisive step towards matching Fenerbahce's record haul of 17 league titles.

Two continents, one passion
Istanbul - the only city in the world to straddle two continents - is the ideal place for a good old-fashioned footballing rivalry. The two clubs were founded in the early 20th century a mere two years apart. In 1905 on the European side, pupils from the French high school in Galatasaray famous for educating the political classes decided to form a football team to take on Greek and English clubs. Ali Sami Yen was behind the project and went to become a legend at the club, with the stadium now bearing his name.

In a city of 13 million, however, it would be impossible to rally every football fan behind just one team. Thus it was that in 1907, on the opposite bank of the Bosporus, Fenerbahce were founded in the Kadikoy area of the city. The club was formed in secret and remained so for the first few years, given Sultan Habdullamid II's unfavourable stance on gatherings involving young people.

The geographical distinction was soon joined by a social one, with Fener known as the 'people's club' and Gala seen to belong to the aristocraticy. A century later, these differences have faded and there are plenty of supporters of both teams on either bank of the river, while the respective stadiums are filled with fans from all walks of life and social classes.

On the pitch, Fenerbahce took the lead in league titles last year with their 17th and are the only team to have a positive head-to-head record against the Lions (135 wins, 115 defeats and 109 draws in 359 matches). Galatasaray, for their part, have had more success in Europe. Their glory days came in the year 2000, when they won the UEFA Cup followed by the Super Cup, much to the chagrin of their city rivals, who have traditionally enjoyed relatively modest success on the international stage.

To keep pace with their near neighbours, Fenerbahce spent big in bringing the likes of Nicolas Anelka, Stephen Appiah, Pierre van Hooijdonk, Roberto Carlos and Zico to Kadikoy. The 2007-2008 season has almost seen Zico's men redress the balance between the two arch enemies with an excellent run in the UEFA Champions League. They were unbeaten at home in the Sukru Saracoglu stadium, recording wins over Inter Milan, PSV Eindhoven, Sevilla and finally Chelsea, who nevertheless edged out the Istanbul team over two legs at the quarter-final stage.

Legendary matches across the decades
The rivalry between the two teams reached another level in February 1934. What was meant to be a friendly turned into a pitched battle with players and supporters involved. Relations between the clubs have never been the same since then, making the derbies win-at-all-costs affairs.

In a country where football is a religion, newspapers - which are already very sport-orientated - increase their circulation by 50 per cent in the days before and after a derby, with the tension mounting as kick-off approaches. And as is often the case when two arch-rivals meet, fouls and bookings tend to be the order of the days rather than dribbles and fancy footwork.

"Even if you beat Barcelona on the European Cup, it's not the same as beating Galatasaray! This match is special
Former Fenerbahce star Ridvan Dilmen"

After all, the result is the only thing that matters. Exciting, flowing football can wait - that is what the other 32 league matches are for. "The players know the importance of this match," says former Canaries star Rıdvan Dilmen. "If you win you go into another dimension. Even if you beat Barcelona on the European Cup, it's not the same as beating Galatasaray! This match is special. We know it and the supporters do too."

Dilmen, known as 'the Demon', and his team-mates were part of a memorable comeback away to their hated enemies in a Turkish Cup match in 1989. After being 3-0 down at half-time, the club from the Asian side of the river did the unthinkable and came back to win 4-3, silencing the legendary wall of noise inside the stadium. Galatasaray got some deal of revenge seven years later when Scot Graeme Souness was in charge. The former Liverpool and Rangers manager thought he knew it all about heated derbies, but that was before the 1996 Turkish Cup final.

The Lions won the home leg 1-0 before losing the away tie by the same score. Towards the end of extra time with penalties looming, Welsh striker Dean Saunders scored the goal that gave the visitors the title. After the match, Souness got carried away by the moment and took a giant red and yellow flag which he planted in the central circle of the Fener stadium. It would take several hours and an escort involving hundreds of policemen to finally enable him to leave the stadium, and to this day the fiery Scotsman is a hero to one half of the city and a villain to the other.

There is a fine line between love and hate, and despite all the animosity between the two teams, Istanbul is all about the love affair between the clubs and their loyal supporters. Fans of both teams will be desperate for Sunday's match to cover their side in glory and move them one step closer to the title. And whoever wins can hold their heads up high on the streets of the city, until the next derby that is...

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=752951.html#title+stake+istanbul+derby

BEFORE SUNDAY'S DERBY, THERE IS "SUPER SATURDAY" IN THE LEAGUE!...

This weekends Turkcell Super League matches will play on Saturday, except the derby match between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.
All Saturday matches will start at same time, 19:00 Local Turkey Time(12 Noon,ET).
Saturday matches will decide the basement teams future.......
If Manisaspor and Caykur Rizespor lose their matches on Saturday, they will most likely say good bye to the Turkcell Super League .....
On the other hand, teams like Genclerbirligi and Ankaraspor, has to win their matches to secure their place in the league.
What is so interesting is, Genlerbirligi Club's another team Genclerbirligi OFTAS will be playing against Ankaraspor......They will try to help their big brothers in this match!.....
Kayserispor v Caykur Rizespor match was taken off the betting list by many Companies in Europe and World.
So, Before the Derby match on Sunday, there will be a dog fight in the Turkcell Super League!.......

Galatasaray will be playing at its home ground of Ali Sami Yen and wants to beat Fenerbahce to earn a three points lead with two weeks remaining in the race.

The two teams share 70 points each and Fenerbahce leads the standings on a better goal average.
Here is the schedule:

April 26th, Saturday:

Kasimpasa v Ankaragucu

Kayserispor v Caykur Rizespor

Denizlispor v Sivasspor

Vestel Manisaspor v Konyaspor

Gaziantepspor v Trabzonspor

Besiktas v Bursaspor

Genclerbirligi v Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor

Ankaraspor v Genclerbirligi OFTAS Spor


April 27th, Sunday

Galatasaray v Fenerbahce

Turkish National Team will play three friendly matches in Germany next month

Turkey will compete in a series of three friendly matches in Germany next month as part of their final preparations for Euro 2008.

Turkish National Team, will take on Slovakia on May 20 in Bielefeld, Uruguay on May 25 in Bochum and Finland four days later in Duisburg.

Turkey are drawn in Group A at the European Championships which start on June 7 with co-hosts Switzerland, Czech Republic and Portugal.

DOCTORS VIEW ABOUT GALATASARAY V FENERBAHCE DERBY MATCH!

The trill match between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce is getting advice from doctors too!..

Two Turkish Doctors order to both teams to be calm.......

Referring to the derby game between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce on Sunday, Acar Baltas said: "it is an advantage for Fenerbahce that even a tie would be enough."

Two specialists in the field of football agreed that the team who can stay calm will have the advantage in the derby game.

Professor Turgay Bicer and Acar Baltas who give psychological counseling service for sportspeople stated that the key to victory is being calm.

Baltas said: "two teams have their own advantages. But the team who can control their nerves will win the game."

Referring to psychological advantages of Fenerbahce, Baltas said: "Even a tie is sufficient for Fenerbahce. The victories in tougher games this season will boost their morale. They are aware that their staff is stronger than Galatasaray's."

For all the stats about this Turkey's biggest Derby go to http://www.footballderbies.com/results/index.php?id=42

NIHAT 'S VILLARREAL MOVE SECOND IN THE SPANISH LEAGUE

Villarreal moved back into the top two of La Liga on Sunday with a 2-0 home win over struggling Real Valladolid at El Madrigal.

Villarreal had lost their last two league matches against Sevilla and Almeria, but Manuel Pellegrini's men got their season back on track against Valladolid thanks to a goal in each half from Nihat Kahveci and Santi Cazorla.

That win was enough to see the Yellow Submarine replace Barca in second spot following the Catalan side's goalless home draw with Espanyol on Saturday night.

Nihat gave Villarreal a 15th-minute lead, but the home side might easily have been two or three goals down by that stage following a blistering start by relegation-threatened Valladolid.

Winger Sisi Gonzalez had his side's first chance after the ball fell kindly to him in the box, but his header lacked the power to beat Villarreal goalkeeper Sebastian Viera.

Viera, who was in for the suspended Diego Lopez, was then beaten in a race for the ball with Joseba Llorente, but the Uruguayan international custodian did well to recover and block the Valladolid striker's attempted cross.

Llorente should have given Viera no chance soon after though as he ghosted in unmarked at the far post to latch onto Sisi's cross, but the highly-rated forward was unable to keep his shot on target at full stretch.

Valladolid's profligacy returned to haunt them as Villarreal scored with their first decent effort of the match.

Nihat picked up a pass from Cazorla in the right channel, before cutting inside marker Alexis Suarez and smashing a rising shot past Sergio Asenjo from a tight angle.

That was Nihat's 15th goal of the season, and the ever-dangerous Turkish international almost made it 2-0 after being put through by Cazorla, but Asenjo managed to get enough of his body in the way to stop Nihat's shot.

Nihat then blazed a 25-yard free-kick just over, before turning provider to set up Cazorla for Villarreal's second goal at the start of the second half.

The striker stole in behind the Valladolid defence on the right before drawing out Asenjo and then sliding the ball across to Cazorla, who had the simple task of tapping into an empty net.

That left Valladolid with a mountain to climb to get back into the match, but they refused to give up and the unmarked Victor should have done better with one effort before the unlucky Llorente sent another far-post volley wide when a goal looked certain.

At the other end, Villarreal midfielder Marcos Senna could have made it 3-0 after fashioning a shooting chance on the edge of the Valladolid box, but Asenjo was equal to his left-footed drive.

The game continued to flow from one end to the other and Valladolid substitute Bartholomew Ogbeche had a great chance to set up a grandstand finish, but he somehow managed to volley over from close range in the 89th minute as Villarreal held on for a potentially crucial three-point haul.

SOURCE :WIRES