Beşiktaş takes on city rival Kasımpaşaspor to keep pace in title race
ISTANBUL
Defending Turkish Super League champion Beşiktaş will take on Istanbul rival Kasımpaşaspor on Jan. 26 as it bids to maintain its pursuit of the top three on the standings.
The Black Eagles’ two key defenders - Portugal international Pepe and Serbian international Dusko Tosic - who missed last week’s match against Antalyaspor, will be back from injury for the opening game of the Week 19 in the domestic title race.
Although Beşiktaş managed to beat Antalya 2-1 last week but struggled without Pepe and Tosic, with Gary Medel and new signing Domagoj Vida replacing them.
Canadian striker Cyle Larin, who moved to Beşiktaş after Turkish international Cenk Tosun flew to Everton, recently started taking part in training sessions but Álvaro Negredo still remains manager Şenol Güneş’s first pick.
Kasımpaşa is high in morale thanks to a 3-2 win over Alanyaspor last week with a last minute goal, after falling behind two times.
Kasımpaşa’s Olivier Veigneau and Fode Koita will also be back from injury.
In another game on Feb. 26, Ankara’s Gençlerbirliği will host Konyaspor in gruelling matchup at the bottom of the standings.
Galatasaray will take on Osmanlıspor, sitting just above the relegation zone, on Jan. 27 in a bid to top the standings at least until leader Başakşehir faces Karabükspor, the cellar dweller with only nine points in the first 18 weeks.
The game comes after the Lions saw a major shift in the club’s administration, after Mustafa Cengiz replaced club chairman Dursun Özbek in an extraordinary congress on Jan. 20.
Bursaspor will visit Alanya on Jan. 27, while Göztepe will host Kayserispor.
Third-spot Fenerbahçe will face a tough test on Jan. 28, when it visits Trabzonspor, a traditionally difficult away game to the Black Sea club.
On the same day, Malatyaspor will host Sivasspor and Akhisarspor will take on Antalyaspor.
