STSL: Galatasaray: 0 Beşiktaş: 1

For the second season in a row Beşiktaş came away with a narrow 1-0 win at the Ali Sami Yen spor kompleksi thanks to an Anderson Talisca free-kick, which took a lucky deflection off the wall.

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.

Süper Lig standings:

Who was your man of the match?

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

Interesting facts:

• Beşiktaş lead Galatasaray & Fenerbahce by 10+ points after 22 games for the first time in three-point system (since 1987-88).
• Last time Beşiktaş beat Galatasaray two times in a row in away games, it was April 4th, 2004.
• Beşiktaş have won seven of their eight games that Anderson Talisca has been involved in at least one goal (D1 v Benfica).
• Anderson Talisca has been involved in seven goals in his last eight Super Lig games (six goals and one assist).
• Beşiktaş have won six of their last seven league games (L1).
• Beşiktaş have won four of their Super Lig derbies (v Galatasaray and Fenerbahce) with Şenol Güneş as manager (W4 D2 L1).

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′)

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Kaan Bayazit

Editor-in-chief at Beşiktaş International

Freelance sports writer specialized in Turkish football and Beşiktaş. Co-host of the Black Eagles podcast. Frequently featured in World Soccer Digest Japan and many other international media outlets. Following Turkish football for close to two decades. Proud father to Aedin.

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