Two games to light up ’09 premiere weekend
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Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Ocak 24, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Turkcell Super League’s 2009 premiere weekend features games that will live up to its flashy tag: Leader Sivasspor welcomes defending Turkish champion Galatasaray, and Fenerbahçe takes on Trabzonspor in two highlights of Turkcell Super League’s return from the winter break
Take a look at the Turkcell Super League standings, but do not take them for granted. The top spots may be completely turned upside down this weekend.
The league’s winter break ended with the Ankaraspor-Konyaspor game Friday night, but the action really kicks off full throttle with this weekend’s games, especially two that will likely shake the top of the league. As the two highlights of Turkcell Super League’s returning weekend, leader Sivasspor welcomes defending Turkish champion Galatasaray on Saturday and Fenerbahçe takes on Trabzonspor on Sunday.
This will be a serious test for Sivasspor’s bid to become only the fifth champion in the 50-year history of the league. Just like this season, Sivasspor managed to end the first half of last season on top, but failed to maintain its position, due to repetitive lackluster performances in big games. Last season, it totaled only three points from a possible 18 points in games against the big three, Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş, who all finished the league in top spots ahead of Sivas.
Two key players
The Central Anatolian side already outdid last year’s big game performance, as it beat Fenerbahçe 2-1 and came away with one point when it took on Beşiktaş at Istanbul’s İnönü Stadium. Adding one point, coming from a goalless draw at this year’s rejuvenated Trabzonspor, Sivasspor’s improved performance raised its hopes to sneak the title off its highly touted opponents. But Galatasaray is a hard team to match. Despite having troubles sustaining form in the early stages of the season, the Lions’ later performances were nothing short of spectacular, including a 4-2 win against archrival Beşiktaş.
Galatasaray boasts by far the most threatening attacking line in the league with stars Arda Turan, Lincoln, Harry Kewell and Milan Baros up front, but those who look closely can give credit to other players that deserve almost the same amount of praise.
Yes, obviously, the four stars deserve serious attention, as they improved their adaptation to perfection and managed to completely pass traffic in dazzling speed in front of the opposition's goal. And apparently, they are the match winners when the game is on the line. The statistics are more than enough to prove it: The four players scored a combined 40 goals of Galatasaray’s total number of 56 in all competitions.
But Galatasaray’s transformation from being a team of skilled forwards to a squad of players that can play on both ends of the pitch became complete when combative midfielders Barış Özbek and Mehmet Topal returned from injury. With the help of those tireless players, the forwards could find more space up front for counter attacks. However, Sivasspor may exploit Galatasaray’s injury woes at its own ground. Lincoln is injured and may limit some of Galatasaray’s scoring potential. Defender Servet Çetin’s absence could be an impact because it may give Sivas’ star striker Mehmet Yıldız more space.
The Sivasspor-Galatasaray game kicks off at 2 p.m. Saturday at the 4 Eylül Stadium.
Trabzon travels to Istanbul
Sunday’s big game is Trabzonspor’s visit to Fenerbahçe. Starting the season with high expectations and millions worth of expensive signings, Trabzonspor lived up to the early presumptions that it may be on its way to end its 25-year title drought.
It started the year with consecutive wins and took hold of the top spot early on, but the Black Sea Storm has showed signs that it can’t keep its rhythm and failed to satisfy with games played against other title contenders.
Trabzonspor was demolished by a 3-0 loss to Galatasaray at Istanbul’s Ali Sami Yen Stadium, while its home games against Sivasspor and Beşiktaş ended in goalless draws. In Sunday’s big game, Trabzonspor will look for its first win in a big clash, but even a draw would be satisfying, considering Fenerbahçe is one of the most competent home performers in the league, only one point behind Sivasspor and Galatasaray.
For Fenerbahçe, this game is a chance to continue its solid home performances against the other title contenders earlier this season. Beşiktaş and Galatasaray failed to survive the derbies at Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium last year and a win over Trabzonspor will do a lot of good to the team’s point tally and morale.
Away from the tension-filled atmosphere at these two games, there will be one team that hopes to win quietly and sneak into a top spot. Beşiktaş takes on relegation-battler Denizlispor on Saturday night, hoping that the other clashes of the weekend will help it improve in the standings. Assuming that the Black Eagles are sixth, their only way might be up.
The league’s winter break ended with the Ankaraspor-Konyaspor game Friday night, but the action really kicks off full throttle with this weekend’s games, especially two that will likely shake the top of the league. As the two highlights of Turkcell Super League’s returning weekend, leader Sivasspor welcomes defending Turkish champion Galatasaray on Saturday and Fenerbahçe takes on Trabzonspor on Sunday.
This will be a serious test for Sivasspor’s bid to become only the fifth champion in the 50-year history of the league. Just like this season, Sivasspor managed to end the first half of last season on top, but failed to maintain its position, due to repetitive lackluster performances in big games. Last season, it totaled only three points from a possible 18 points in games against the big three, Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş, who all finished the league in top spots ahead of Sivas.
Two key players
The Central Anatolian side already outdid last year’s big game performance, as it beat Fenerbahçe 2-1 and came away with one point when it took on Beşiktaş at Istanbul’s İnönü Stadium. Adding one point, coming from a goalless draw at this year’s rejuvenated Trabzonspor, Sivasspor’s improved performance raised its hopes to sneak the title off its highly touted opponents. But Galatasaray is a hard team to match. Despite having troubles sustaining form in the early stages of the season, the Lions’ later performances were nothing short of spectacular, including a 4-2 win against archrival Beşiktaş.
Galatasaray boasts by far the most threatening attacking line in the league with stars Arda Turan, Lincoln, Harry Kewell and Milan Baros up front, but those who look closely can give credit to other players that deserve almost the same amount of praise.
Yes, obviously, the four stars deserve serious attention, as they improved their adaptation to perfection and managed to completely pass traffic in dazzling speed in front of the opposition's goal. And apparently, they are the match winners when the game is on the line. The statistics are more than enough to prove it: The four players scored a combined 40 goals of Galatasaray’s total number of 56 in all competitions.
But Galatasaray’s transformation from being a team of skilled forwards to a squad of players that can play on both ends of the pitch became complete when combative midfielders Barış Özbek and Mehmet Topal returned from injury. With the help of those tireless players, the forwards could find more space up front for counter attacks. However, Sivasspor may exploit Galatasaray’s injury woes at its own ground. Lincoln is injured and may limit some of Galatasaray’s scoring potential. Defender Servet Çetin’s absence could be an impact because it may give Sivas’ star striker Mehmet Yıldız more space.
The Sivasspor-Galatasaray game kicks off at 2 p.m. Saturday at the 4 Eylül Stadium.
Trabzon travels to Istanbul
Sunday’s big game is Trabzonspor’s visit to Fenerbahçe. Starting the season with high expectations and millions worth of expensive signings, Trabzonspor lived up to the early presumptions that it may be on its way to end its 25-year title drought.
It started the year with consecutive wins and took hold of the top spot early on, but the Black Sea Storm has showed signs that it can’t keep its rhythm and failed to satisfy with games played against other title contenders.
Trabzonspor was demolished by a 3-0 loss to Galatasaray at Istanbul’s Ali Sami Yen Stadium, while its home games against Sivasspor and Beşiktaş ended in goalless draws. In Sunday’s big game, Trabzonspor will look for its first win in a big clash, but even a draw would be satisfying, considering Fenerbahçe is one of the most competent home performers in the league, only one point behind Sivasspor and Galatasaray.
For Fenerbahçe, this game is a chance to continue its solid home performances against the other title contenders earlier this season. Beşiktaş and Galatasaray failed to survive the derbies at Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium last year and a win over Trabzonspor will do a lot of good to the team’s point tally and morale.
Away from the tension-filled atmosphere at these two games, there will be one team that hopes to win quietly and sneak into a top spot. Beşiktaş takes on relegation-battler Denizlispor on Saturday night, hoping that the other clashes of the weekend will help it improve in the standings. Assuming that the Black Eagles are sixth, their only way might be up.