Derby a survival test for Galatasaray, Fener
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Nisan 11, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Galatasaray meets Fenerbahçe to renew their rivalry, which is the most important enmity in Turkish sports, but this time, they do not play for getting the title as usual. Two Istanbul sides clash on Sunday to remain in the Turkcell Super League title race and keep pace with Sivasspor and Beşiktaş, the top two of the standings.
Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe meet to add another chapter to Turkish sport's biggest rivalry but this time it is not a winner-takes-all kind of game: They are playing for only the third spot in the Turkcell Super League.
Despite being the biggest favorites to win the league, the two teams were left behind the likes of leader Sivasspor and second-place Beşiktaş in the standings. However, even if it is a game to between the third and the fourth teams of the division, it is still a Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe game, and like every derby between those two teams, it becomes the most highly anticipated event of that time. This Sunday’s game is no exception, and will probably be watched more than the Sivasspor-Beşiktaş game, which was played three weeks ago and was likely to have a more direct effect on the title race.
Falling further
However, this weekend’s clash at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium will not be dead rubber either. Yes, the winning side will not get to the top of the league, but the losing side will probably wave goodbye to its title dreams. With eight matches left, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray, which are both on 47 points and only separated by goal difference, are six points behind surprise package Sivasspor. Both teams will try to avoid falling further from the top.
Some of the two teams’ players met at the opening of a shop owned by a former Galatasaray player earlier this week. With days left for the big derby, which usually stages tense battles on the pitch, they found the time to give peace messages. But the importance of the game could be read from their speeches.
"The winning side will continue its way," said Fenerbahçe’s Emre Belözoğlu.
Galatasaray starlet Arda Turan was a little more optimistic. "It will not be the end for anybody," he said. "The losing side will continue its way, too."
Emre will be the man under the spotlight in the game, as this is the first time that he will step on to the Ali Sami Yen Stadium with the Fenerbahçe jersey. The midfielder became a professional at Galatasaray when he was 17 years old, and played for the Lions for five years. After playing for Inter Milan and Newcastle, he returned to Turkey but to play on the other side of Istanbul. For Galatasaray fans, it was a bitter pill to swallow, and it is almost certain that they will protest Emre when he is playing for their fiercest rivals.
Emre thinks he can take the pressure.
"I know I react easily, and I know they will try to distract me from my game, but I will try to remain calm," said the Turkish international.
Managing to remain calm in front of some 25,000-strong Galatasaray fans is exactly what Fenerbahçe coach Luis Aragones needs.
"We have a saying in Spain that goes, ’A player should have a cool mind but hot heart,’" the Spaniard said to the club’s official FBTV this week. "So, we need to keep our minds focused, and put our heart to the pitch."
Not a title-decider
Aragones reminded that it would not be a title-decider, but a highly important game for both clubs.
"That is definitely not a game that will define the title," the Spaniard said. "But it is really crucial for both teams. The losing side will lose a big advantage and will fall back, while the winning side will take a step forward."
"But there are two more teams up ahead, Sivas and Beşiktaş. They are closer to the title," he admitted.
Fener beat Galatasaray 4-1 in the first games the two teams played this year. The Yellow Canaries managed to defeat Beşiktaş and Sivasspor in other big games as well, but Aragones does not rely on past results. "Sometimes those statistics are there to be broken," he said.
Galatasaray, on the other hand, will try to win its first derby game with Bülent Korkmaz at the helm.
After four consecutive games without a win, the Lions finally showed some good signs with the 1-0 win over Gaziantepspor on Monday. The Lions hope to build on that win.
Sunday’s big game starts at 7:00 p.m.
Despite being the biggest favorites to win the league, the two teams were left behind the likes of leader Sivasspor and second-place Beşiktaş in the standings. However, even if it is a game to between the third and the fourth teams of the division, it is still a Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe game, and like every derby between those two teams, it becomes the most highly anticipated event of that time. This Sunday’s game is no exception, and will probably be watched more than the Sivasspor-Beşiktaş game, which was played three weeks ago and was likely to have a more direct effect on the title race.
Falling further
However, this weekend’s clash at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium will not be dead rubber either. Yes, the winning side will not get to the top of the league, but the losing side will probably wave goodbye to its title dreams. With eight matches left, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray, which are both on 47 points and only separated by goal difference, are six points behind surprise package Sivasspor. Both teams will try to avoid falling further from the top.
Some of the two teams’ players met at the opening of a shop owned by a former Galatasaray player earlier this week. With days left for the big derby, which usually stages tense battles on the pitch, they found the time to give peace messages. But the importance of the game could be read from their speeches.
"The winning side will continue its way," said Fenerbahçe’s Emre Belözoğlu.
Galatasaray starlet Arda Turan was a little more optimistic. "It will not be the end for anybody," he said. "The losing side will continue its way, too."
Emre will be the man under the spotlight in the game, as this is the first time that he will step on to the Ali Sami Yen Stadium with the Fenerbahçe jersey. The midfielder became a professional at Galatasaray when he was 17 years old, and played for the Lions for five years. After playing for Inter Milan and Newcastle, he returned to Turkey but to play on the other side of Istanbul. For Galatasaray fans, it was a bitter pill to swallow, and it is almost certain that they will protest Emre when he is playing for their fiercest rivals.
Emre thinks he can take the pressure.
"I know I react easily, and I know they will try to distract me from my game, but I will try to remain calm," said the Turkish international.
Managing to remain calm in front of some 25,000-strong Galatasaray fans is exactly what Fenerbahçe coach Luis Aragones needs.
"We have a saying in Spain that goes, ’A player should have a cool mind but hot heart,’" the Spaniard said to the club’s official FBTV this week. "So, we need to keep our minds focused, and put our heart to the pitch."
Not a title-decider
Aragones reminded that it would not be a title-decider, but a highly important game for both clubs.
"That is definitely not a game that will define the title," the Spaniard said. "But it is really crucial for both teams. The losing side will lose a big advantage and will fall back, while the winning side will take a step forward."
"But there are two more teams up ahead, Sivas and Beşiktaş. They are closer to the title," he admitted.
Fener beat Galatasaray 4-1 in the first games the two teams played this year. The Yellow Canaries managed to defeat Beşiktaş and Sivasspor in other big games as well, but Aragones does not rely on past results. "Sometimes those statistics are there to be broken," he said.
Galatasaray, on the other hand, will try to win its first derby game with Bülent Korkmaz at the helm.
After four consecutive games without a win, the Lions finally showed some good signs with the 1-0 win over Gaziantepspor on Monday. The Lions hope to build on that win.
Sunday’s big game starts at 7:00 p.m.