Crunch Time and Derby Time in the Turkish Super Lig !

Last weekend ,while Fenerbahce won on the road,  Besiktas and Galatasaray lost points and  the gap on top  opened up, once again !

By all means, title chase is not over but it is very difficult for Galatasaray and Besiktas....

As we go into the week 28,  Fenerbahce is on top with 63 points with that suspended match in Trabzon!

There are 7 more weeks to play soccer in the Turkish Super Lig yet....

With three point system, mathematically,it is not over yet !

 Sunday's match  in Galatasaray nest, will  be huge match between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce ..

A win for Fenerbahce or a draw will be good but  it will tarnish Galatasaray's hopes for the title!

On the other hand, a win for Galatasaray,  will make the title race very interesting....

Fenerbahce still has to play Besiktas who is also, with 50 points and trying to win the championship !

Drogba should be ready to go against Fenerbahce on Sunday.....

Who ever has the control in the midfield will win the match on Sunday .

Galatasaray has not win a match in their last five matches !

Ever Since exiting the Champions League , Galatasaray and Mancini , are in trouble, in Turkey ...

Even though , if Fenerbahce wins the the tittle, beauce of the UEFA ban , Fenerbahce could not go to Champions League, therefore , who ever finishes second place at the end of the season will earn  to go to Champions League directly !

That is why, finishing second place, is very important this season.

Looking at last seven weeks in the Turkish Super league ...

It will be crunch time for all the teams !

Top teams are playing against the teams who are desperate for points ....

 There's only 10 point  gap between 7th place  and 16th place  !

Bottom two Kayseri teams ,Erciyes and Kayserispor are  with 26, and 25 points !

If, Kayseri and Erciyesspor keeps winning  ,things will be very interesting !

That is why mid level teams are feeling the heat from the bottom ...

So, it is crunch time in the Turkish Super League ...

Winning is a must for every team...

WEEK 28....

April 4 (Friday )

Gaziantepspor vs Kasimpasa at 20:00

April 5 (Saturday )

Akhisar Belediyespor vs Eskisehirspor at 13:30

Medical Park Antalyaspor vs Torku Konyaspor at 16:00

Besiktas vs Kayserispor at 19:00

Caykur Rizespor vs Kardemir Karabukspor at 19:00

April 6 (Sunday )

Kayseri Erciyesspor vs Elazigspor at 13:30

Bursaspor vs Sivasspor at 16:00

Galatasaray vs Fenerbahce at 19:00

April 7 (Monday )

Trabzonspor vs Genclerbirligi at 20:00

Turkish Super Lig :Week 27, Preview .. Crunch Time !

Eight weeks to go, we pretty much know who will finish n top in the Turkish Super League after last weekend !

The real question is who will finish second  and who will bite the dust at the end of the season !

That is the big question......

Galatasaray competing in three different competitions ,showed it's overload !

After ,actually not showing up and choking  against Chelsea in London ,

They lost to last place team at home  and in the Turkish Cup match, after going ahead 2-0 , they draw with Bursa 2-2 at home  .

So, tired and distracted Galatasaray is   in trouble!

The Turkish media's distraction doesn't help it either...

Fenerbahce looks like  wont have any challenge from Galatasaray and Besiktas for the first place....

After winning in Gaziantep, Fener pretty much seal the championship....

Week 27 matches , are very important matches for all the teams in the league...

Because, between fourth place Trabzon(38 )and 16th place Elazig(27) , there is only 11 points difference !

So, in the last eight weeks who ever does not win games, could be in trouble ...

WE are in crunch weeks in the Turkish Super League....

March 28, Friday

Kasimpasa vs Kayseri Erciyesspor at 20:00

Kardemir Karabukspor vs Besiktas at 20:00

March 29, Saturday

Sivasspor vs Gaziantepspor at 13:30

Elazigspor vs Trabzonspor at 16:00

Akhisar Belediyespor vs Caykur Rizespor at 19:00

Torku Konyaspor vs Galatasaray at 19:00

March 31, Monday 

Eskisehirspor vs Genclerbirligi at 20:00

Fenerbahce vs Bursaspor at 20:00

TACTICAL REVIEW: CHELSEA 2-0 GALATASARAY

Photo : Getty Images Sport

When Roberto Mancini and Jose Mourinho clash, it is same old same old. Mourinho almost always finds a way to get ahead of his Italian rival.

In the first leg, Mourinho clearly won the tactical battle of the first half by ensuring midfield dominance and Mancini tweaked his team to even things up. In this game, Mancini retained the tactics that tipped the scales in the last game only to find out that he needed to play catch up again.

The Chelsea boss would have loved to include the cup-tied Nemanja Matic as a holding midfielder but he had to turn to Frank Lampard to partner Ramires. Mourinho knew that it would limit Chelsea’s dominance in the middle of the park, but it also added Lampard’s assured passing to quickly spread the ball to wide areas, especially to Eden Hazard on the left.

While the Portuguese manager didn’t change the roles of the back seven, he had Hazard and William running in wider areas than usual to exploit spaces that Galatasaray left. Oscar frequently pushed up to partner Samuel Eto’o by making runs into the channels.

In the last game Mancini, initially played an open team, but only gained control after changing to a diamond midfield. He came into this game with the same diamond midfield: Felipe Melo had to sit in front of the back four, Wesley Sneijder was on the left, Selçuk İnan on the right and Yekta Kurtuluş slightly forward. Didier Drogba and Burak Yılmaz played up front.

The whole plan was centred on dominating the ball and floating balls to Drogba because the 36-year-old Ivorian cannot roam around looking for spaces the way the more mobile Yilmaz can. Therefore, for Galatasaray to get the best out of Drogba, they had to get balls into the box more often where the Ivorian’s upper body strength and power could influence the game.

As the game went on, the crowded Galatasaray midfield couldn't get the majority of the ball as planned; Ramires covered too much ground, a fresh Lampard also worked hard and Willian drifted inside to help out, so the ball possession was roughly even.

On the other hand, the incredible work rate of Lampard, Willian and Ramirez neutralised the input of five of Galatasaray players, including Emmanuel Eboue. As the former Arsenal man kept pushing forward to help his midfielders, Hazard found a lot of space to run in behind and cause problems. Sometimes Melo moved across to try and help out but Hazard was just too good for the visitors to contain.

This game’s two first-half goals forced Mancini to remain offensive as he had to chase the game. Drogba couldn’t affect the game as he became increasingly isolated. He tried to exploit Cezar Azpilicueta’s aerial weakness but the full-back minimised this threat by remaining cautious.

Mourinho’s slight changes were boosted by Etoo’s early goal; even though Mancini could see that Eboue needed to drop back and concentrate on picking up Hazard, he couldn't instruct him to do that because he needed numbers in offensive positions. It is never ideal to always play catch up and the first half goals complicated things for Mancini.

Source : by  KEITH SATUKU -Off the post blogger 

Do or Die Match for Galatasaray!

Galatasaray  never won in England  against , British teams !

Could this be first and Galatasaray  make the history along with  Drogba ...

Who is facing his former team for the first time in  Stamford Bridge  !

Why not....

They don't need to win  with a 2-2 draw they could make the history in  London,tonight ..


Drogba, Sneijder , Selcuk Inan, Burak Yilmaz and keeper Muslera are the clutch players


Galatasaray has to play  flawless as a team ....

With Galatasaray fans support  in  London , they could make history tonight ....

Like, Mancini said, It won't be easy  !

Chelsea vs Galatasaray ,match will be broadcast  live on Fox Sport 1,

In the United States at 3.45 PM (ET) New York time...

The World will be watching this ,match...

Let's hope Galatasaray will make that history...

I

ArdaTuranismo !

#ArdaTuranismo.....

That is what is going on in Madrid and around the world !

After scoring the second goal against  AC Milan ....

He took a loopy shot but it was lucky deflect and  ball went in ...

Arda Turan did not even believed it at the beginning !

But, with the  help of deflection , his team went ahead of Milan  2-1....

At the end , Atletico Madrid beat AC Milan 4-1 !

Diego  Costa scored twice along with Raul Garcia  too ...

AC Milan's only goal came by Kaka before Arda Turan's goal.

After Arda Turan scored the goal , in social media Arda was talk of the the town !

With #ArdaTuranismo hashtag .....

Arda, has come along way from streets of Istanbul then Galatasaray ...

Now, In Spain with one of the good teams Atletico Madrid...

He now realises how to be true professional soccer player !

He  said this  in his recent comments...

At the beginning,  In Spain, he struggled for while ...

But, he knew he had to work hard and change his work habits in Spain !

And  it showed .......

Last night , he helped his team to reach quarter -finals in the Champions League  !

This will be his first Champions League quarterfinals in his career ...

Who know he might just meet his team ,Galatasaray there too .

After,Nihat Kahveci, Arda Turan will make good things in Spain .....

I believe it....

Turkish Super League Wrap : "Match of the Week" What match ?

Once again Turkish football is seen another dark day on Monday !

Trabzonspor fans  actually did not help their cause and their teams by acting this way ..

In the last match of the week 24,  as  many looked  at  this  match "match of the week"...

What match ?

Tensions were build up by way before match , off the pitch!

This kind of behavior is not the first in the Turkish football seen...

We have seen this in many Turkish stadiums...

And it's not the first time in Trabzon !

After, Fenerbahce scored  the goal by Emenike, fans in the stadium  went nuts!

Instead of supporting their team, they started  throwing objects into the field ....

And referee  Bulent Yildirim called off the match !

Turkish FA board will make a decision in 15 days on this match ....

Trabzonspor fans shoots itself in the foot  ......


There is  a huge hate , anger and frustration between fans in Turkey !

This has to end.....

Football is good for our eyes !

Violences  are not ....

A scenes like this and the others, ruining Turkish Football !


Turkish Football Federation was late on deciding on Turkish Football corruption...

And they are very late, in this ugly football  feud!

Salution......

You have to have strict rules and by laws ...

You need to be  like NBA league !

Strict  punishments to anyone who goes over that line .....

That is ,what is not happening in Turkish Football !

Turkish Fa (TFF)  needs to do their job .....


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WEEK 24:

On Saturday Didier Drogba's brace helped champions Galatasaray, who sit second, to an emphatic 6-1 win over Akhisar Belediyespor, while Ersan Gulum's late winner for third-placed Besiktas saw off mid-table Eskisehirspor.

Fener therefore remain three points clear at the top, while Sivasspor's 2-1 defeat at Genclerbirligi saw their grip on fourth place loosen.

Roberto Carlos' side ended the game with nine men thanks to the dismissals of Kadir Bekmezci and Cicinho, with second-half goals from Bogdan Stancu and Jimmy Durmaz ensuring the visitors fell to a third straight defeat that leaves them just a point clear of Kasimpasa.

At the bottom, Rizespor threw the Super League  relegation fight wide open on Sunday when they came from behind to edge fellow strugglers Antalyaspor 2-1 on Sunday.

The sides are now level on 25 points after Leonard Kweuke struck twice in four second-half minutes to overturn Lamine Diarra's opener.

Having held champions Galatasaray to a 1-1 draw last week, Rizespor have now picked up eight points from their last five fixtures, although they are still not the most in-form side in the lower reaches of the division.

Kayseri Erciyesspor, who are now level on points with Rizespor and Antalyaspor, extended their winning run to four league matches thanks to a narrow 1-0 victory over Konyaspor.

Bottom-club Kayserispor, however, were cut further adrift, as they succumbed to a 2-1 loss at Gaziantepspor.

In an action-packed affair, both sides had a man sent off with Kayserispor leading up to the 72nd minute, before two goals in five minutes ensured the visitors suffered a third straight defeat.

Elsewhere, Kasimpasa missed the chance to go fourth with their goalless draw at Elazigspor, while Fernandao's penalty gave Bursaspor a 1-0 win over Karabukspor

Week 24, starts on Saturday in The Turkish Super League.

Only eleven weeks to go in the Turkish Super League , week 24, will begin on Saturday. The opening match of the week will be played between Elazigspor and Kasimpasa on Saturday at 13:30 pm, local Turkey time .

While Galatasaray plays on Saturday, Besiktas will play on Sunday and first place team Fenerbahce, will travel to Trabzon on Monday  to play Trabzonspor!

For Fenerbahce and Trabzonspor this match will be very important!

With a win, Trabzonspor could renew their thirst for the top four or 5 !

On the other hand, if Fenerbahce wins on Monday , it will be huge ....

So, Fenerbahce  will sit back and watch their opponents play on Saturday and Sunday ...

If Besiktas and Galatasaray win their matches, it will put a pressure on Fenerbahce on Monday !

Monday match could be very uptight in Trabzon .....

That's is why a match between Trabzonspor and Fenerbahce is the match of the week in week 24 !

 

***************************

Second place Galatasaray, who has problem winning at away matches will be at home this weekend  against Akhisar on Saturday.

Galatasaray will  miss Emre Colak and Selcuk Inan due  to  injury  and  Selcuk's yellow card suspension.

Third place Besiktas will host  Eskisehirspor on Sunday. 

 Besiktas may lack many regular players such as Tomas Sivok, Manuel Fernandes  and Almeida .

 Cameroonian center-back Dany Nounkeu owing to injuries. 

Two regulars of Besiktas, Turkish  Necip Uysal and  Atiba Hutchinson will both miss the game due to yellow card suspensions.

THE MATCH OF THE WEEK.....

Trabzonspor vs Fenerbahce !

"The match of the week " will be played between Trabzonspor and Fenerbahce on Monday. 

The clash at Trabzonspor's home ground, Huseyin Avni Aker Stadium kicks off at 20:00. 

 Trabzonspor will miss,Ivorian center back Sol Bamba, Turkish full-back Kadir Keles and Turkish forward Emre Gural will miss the match due to their injuries.

  On the other hand, Fenerbahce will not have, midfielder Cristian Baroni is suspended for the match. In addition Bruno Alves and  Pierre Webo's injuries, each are doubtful to play in the match in Trabzon.

WEEK 24......

March 8, Saturday:

Elazigspor vs Kasimpasa at 13:30

Bursaspor vs Kardemir Karabukspor at 16:00

Galatasaray vs Akhisar Belediyespor at 19:00

Kayseri Erciyesspor vs Torku Konyaspor at 19:00

March 9, Sunday:

Gaziantepspor vs Kayserispor at 13:30

Genclerbirligi vs Sivasspor at 13:30

Medical Park Antalyaspor vs Caykur Rizespor at 16:00

Besiktas vs Eskisehirspor at 19:00

March 10, Monday:

Trabzonspor vs Fenerbahce at 20:00