Results of the UEFA Europa League groupstage draw
Beşiktaş were included in today’s UEFA Europa League draw that took place...
Beşiktaş had a narrow one point lead on the second in the standings Istanbul Başakşehir, but a win would put them four points clear again. While Galatasaray were playing for their last chance at the title, a defeat would mean a 10 point deficit while a win would put them within striking distance of the reigning champions.
Şenol Güneş anticipated an intense start from the hosts but the pressure was modest and Beşiktaş had the first opportunity of the match after 5 minutes. Ricardo Quaresma swung in a cross from the left wing which was met by Ryan Babel, but the Dutchman headed it wide under pressure by Muslera.
Anderson Talisca scores his first derby goal as a Black Eagle, his 7th in the Süper Lig and his 9th in all competitions.
After 13 minutes the hosts thought they had been awarded a penalty as Yasin Öztekin went down in the box, but the referee followed his assistant’s instructions and gave a goalkick. For a moment there was some confusion as the referee initially pointed to the penalty spot, but he overturned his decision following communication with his linesman.
The real chances still stayed away until an intense moment of pressure by Galatasaray on the halfhour mark, first Carole centered it just as Fabri was rushing out of goal but failed to find a teammate to tap in to the empty net and next Wesley Sneijder nearly found Yasin Öztekin at the far post with an excellent cross, but Yasin failed to connect with the pinpoint pass.
The 0-0 scoreline at halftime was logical following a nervous, but pretty uneventful first half.
The second half couldn’t have started better for the Black Eagles though, Anderson Talisca earned a freekick on the edge of the penalty area and took full advantage of the opportunity: he curled the freekick direct at goal but, unfortunately for Fernando Muslera, Talisca’s shot took a deflection on the wall and left the Uruguay international without a chance: 0-1 after just 47 minutes.
Galatasaray nearly found themselves in a goalscoring opportunity just past the hour mark, but substitute Tolga Ciğerci fumbled his first touch and ruined the opportunity. The hosts tried to press and mainly through Bruma attempted to create danger, but the young dribbler couldn’t get through the sturdy Beşiktaş defence.
After Wesley Sneijder was taken out of the game Galatasaray seemed to have run out of ideas and kept trying to find a way through with long balls, but their attackers were no match for Beşiktaş’ tall center backs.
When Lukas Podolski did find himself in a rare goalscoring opportunity in the 83rd minute, the 2014 World champions blasted it in to the stands, quite illustrative for Galatasaray’s match. Beşiktaş had a penalty claim turned away a few minutes earlier as Quaresma went down in the box, but the referee again said no penalty.
Beşiktaş controlled the match for large parts of the final 10 minutes and tried to retain possession as well as possible, even Eren Derdiyok coming from the bench failed to give Galatasaray more presence in the box and the Black Eagles secured their 3 points relatively comfortably.
Galatasaray now trail the reigning Süper Lig champions by 10 points while Fenerbahçe are already 12 points behind, with just 12 matches left in the season these gaps seem to big for either side to overcome, certainly judging by their recent form. Beşiktaş’ true opponent seems to be Istanbul Başakşehir and perhaps fixture congestion.
Who was your #MOTM during the #Galatasaray–#BEŞİKTAŞ Süper Lig clash? #STSL #BJKlive #Marcelo #Atiba #Adriano #Talisca #Fabri
— Beşiktaş Int. (@Besiktas_Int) February 27, 2017
Stadium: Ali Sami Yen spor kompleksi
Official: Bülent Yıldırım
Galatasaray XI: Fernando Muslera; Semih Kaya – Hakan Balta – Aurélien Chedjou – Lionel Carole; Nigel De Jong – Selçuk İnan (60′ Tolga Ciğerci) – Wesley Sneijder (76′ Eren Derdiyok); Yasin Öztekin (76′ Garry Rodrigues) – Lukas Podolski – Bruma
Reserves: Cenk Gönen, Sabri Sarıoğlu, Ahmet Çalık, Josué, Tolga Ciğerci, Eren Derdiyok, Garry Rodrigues
Beşiktaş XI: Fabricio Ramirez; Gökhan Gönul (67′ Andreas Beck)- Marcelo Guedes – Atınç Nukan – Adriano Correia; Atiba Hutchinson – Oğuzhan Özyakup (83′ Gökhan İnler)- Anderson Talisca (71′ Tolgay Arslan); Ricardo Quaresma – Cenk Tosun – Ryan Babel
Reserves: Tolga Zengin, Matej Mitrovic, Andreas Beck, Gökhan İnler, Tolgay Arslan, Ömer Şişmanoğlu, Vincent Aboubakar
Head coach: Şenol Güneş
Goals: Anderson Talisca (47′)
Yellow cards: Anderson Talisca (22′), Selçuk İnan (37′), Lukas Podolski (90+4′)