Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe turn focus to Turkish league

Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe will shift their focus back to the Turkcell Super League after both were knocked out of the Europa League on Thursday night by late goals.

Substitute Diego Forlan struck a last-gasp winner as Atletico Madrid stunned Galatasaray at Ali Sami Yen Stadium 2-1 two hours before French Lille clinched a 1-1 draw against Fenerbahçe at Şükrü Saraçoğlu with Adil Rami's 85th minute header.

The results marked the end of the road for the European adventure of Turkish teams this season.

Tricky opponents await the Istanbul giants in their return to league play as leader Galatasaray hosts Kasımpaşapsor while Fenerbahçe plays at Istanbul Municipality.

Kasımpaşaspor was considered one of the league’s weakest team at the beginning of the season but the team’s ethos has changed significantly since coach Yılmaz Vural’s arrival in September. It has won two games in a row – 2-0 at Gençlerbirliği and 3-0 at home over Gaziantepspor – and climbed up to 12th in the table.

The only good news for Galatasaray is the possible return of striker Milan Baros. The Czech player has been out since he picked up a knee injury in the derby game against Fenerbahçe on Oct. 25, 2009.

Brazilian striker Jo was signed from Manchester City at the winter break to replace him but Jo has been restricted to two league games since his arrival due to injury.

Fatigue will also be another concern for Galatasaray, which will be playing its ninth game this month. Coach Frank Rijkaard said following Thursday’s game that the physical condition of some players was one of the reasons for the loss.

Istanbul Municipality, meanwhile, has scored some impressive results against the big Istanbul teams this season. It held Galatasaray twice and Beşiktaş once to 1-1 draws and only narrowly lost 1-0 to Fenerbahçe at Şükrü Saraçoğlu earlier in the season.

Fenerbahçe has yet to win a league game in February, having drawn twice and lost once. Last Monday’s 3-2 home loss to Bursaspor, meanwhile, led to supporters’ protests. Having been knocked out of European competition, a further slump in the league challenge might cause major problems for the club.

Also on Sunday, Gençlerbirliği and Ankaragücü clash in the Ankara derby in a game that was moved to 19 Mayıs Stadium at the last minute, Manisaspor hosts Diyarbakırspor in the weekend’s relegation zone highlight while Eskişehirspor visits Gaziantepspor.

Kayserispor and Beşiktaş, meanwhile will play Saturday in Kayseri to see who can cut the gap on the leading pack.

Bursa behind closed doors at neutral ground

Bursaspor, which currently sits third in the league following last Monday’s spectacular 3-2 victory at Fenerbahçe, was scheduled to host Sivasspor this weekend.

The game, however, will be played in Sakarya, 200 kilometers north of Bursa, behind closed doors due to a rare fine imposed on the club by the Turkish Football Federation’s disciplinary committee. Bursaspor received the ban due to fan behavior in a Ziraat Turkish Cup quarterfinal game against Fenerbahçe earlier this month.

Bursaspor coach Ertuğrul Sağlam said the Sivasspor fixture will be one of the most important of the season for the club, adding that the team’s punishment was harsh and that no team should get such a penalty.

Struggling Sivasspor has not lost its last three league games – having won two – and wants to continue the form to further escape the danger zone.