League Focus: The Süper Lig Title Challengers – A Three Horse Race
It really is neck and neck at the top of the table this season as 19-time champions Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe are entrenched in battle over who will win a historic 20th league title and earn the right to wear a fourth star on their shirt. All the while, second-placed Beşiktaş are intent on ruining the party and kicking off a new golden era under Slaven Bilic and his rising stars.
The Black Eagles are just one point behind league leaders Fenerbahçe and ahead of Galatasaray on goal difference. Of the big three, Beşiktaş have been the most active in the transfer market, bringing in Swedish international defender Alexander Milosevic and Porto right-back Daniel Opare. Bilic has added depth in positions that were clearly in need of strengthening. The Eagles have also been in talks with HSV’s Tolgay Arslan in an attempt to further bolster their arsenal of assiduous midfielders.
Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe have been surprisingly quiet on the transfer front. The Lions in particular could rue not bringing in additional defensive cover and firepower up front. Defenders Semih Kaya and Koray Günter are out injured, Aurelian Chedjou is at the African Cup of Nations and Dany joined Evian on loan. To make matters worse leading Süper Lig goal scorer Burak Yılmaz is not expected back until mid-February at the earliest after picking up an injury during a friendly.
Chedjou in particular could be a huge miss. The 29-year-old defender is the third highest rated centre-back in the league with an average score of 7.34. Galatasaray could also miss his aerial threat; the Lions have scored the joint highest number of goals from set-pieces (11) this season, with Yılmaz also a threat from dead-balls. The Turkish international has scored 11 of Galatasaray’s 25 goals this season. His partner in crime Umut Bulut only has four goals and averages 1.2 shots on goal per game in contrast to Yılmaz’s 3.2.
Fenerbahçe are the most settled side in the league. Ismail Kartal, like his predecessor Ersun Yanal, has kept faith with Aykut Kocaman’s successful 4-3-3 system. The Yellow Canaries definitely have the most experienced side among the title candidates, with several of their players having won domestic and European titles. There is a winner’s mentality within the team. The Yellow Canaries may not always play the most aesthetically pleasing football but they have found a way to grind out wins several times this season.
The Yellow Canaries control possession more than any other team in the league (59.3%), have the highest pass accuracy (82.6%) and take the most shots per game (17.4) in the Süper Lig. Fenerbahçe have not lost at home in 31 games and while the Şükrü Saracoğlu has been a fortress for the Canaries they have the worst away record by quite a margin among the chasing pack. They have managed a dismal 11 points on the road, compared to Galatasaray’s 19. The king of road however, has been footballing nomads Beşiktaş. The Black Eagles have won 21 away points this season. Technically Bilic’s side have recorded 35 away points, as they have not played a home game all season due to the İnönü stadium currently being rebuilt. That may have originally been thought to be a disadvantage but they have turned it into a positive, now accustomed to playing all over the place.
Beşiktaş have stolen the limelight as far as Turkish clubs in European competition are concerned. The Black Eagles gave Arsenal a real scare, losing 1-0 on aggregate in the UEFA Champions League play-offs and drew with Tottenham at White Hart Lane before defeating Spurs in Istanbul in the Europa League. The Eagles have a wealth of attacking talent; Demba Ba has 17 goals in 21 appearances in all competitions, boasting a 23.5% conversion rate in the league. Meanwhile, Gökhan Töre, Olcay Şahan and Cenk Tosun all have five goals or more.
What will concern Galatasaray the most about the Eagles’ European exploits is that Beşiktaş almost beat the same Arsenal side that beat them 4-1 home and away, though the Lions will take some comfort in blaming their dreadful Champions League campaign on Cesare Prandelli. Under the recently appointed Hamza Hamzaoğlu the Lions are brimming with confidence having won five out of their last six league games.
Beşiktaş have excelled on big European nights this season but in the league it is another story altogether. Beşiktaş are yet to win a derby against Galatasaray or Fenerbahçe under Slaven Bilic and underperformed yet against this season losing both big derby games without putting up much of a fight.
There is little separating the Istanbul trio, but the biggest question marks surround the Black Eagles. Bilic’s boys have the quality but will have to overcome their nerves to prevent their rivals from winning a fourth star.
Who do you think will win the Süper Lig this season? Let us know in the comments below
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