Despite losing in recent matches, Beşiktaş finished leading the Turkish league by just one goal difference against Galatasaray.
Beşiktaş, who had lost its last two games including the derby to their main rival, Galatasaray, was proclaimed Turkish league champion yesterday by just one goal difference, thus claiming its first Turkish Süper Lig title in four seasons and the 16th in its entire history.
Although it was not an easy game, the Black Eagles managed to win 1-2 in the match played on Saturday in the city of İzmir against Göztepe, classified in the middle of the table and playing at home. Croatian defender Domagoj Vida opened the scoring after just 10 minutes with a header in the small area after a corner kick. 14 minutes later, Alpaslan Öztürk finished next to the goal a ball that had previously bounced off the post, tying for the hosts.
With the pressure after seeing that Galatasaray was winning its match in Istanbul, Beşiktaş had to try harder although it had to wait to see the results at minute 69, when the referee correctly pointed out a penalty that was kicked by Algerian striker on loan from Leicester City Rachid Ghezzal, setting the final score of 1-2 that gave the Istanbul team the victory.
Galatasaray at the gates
Galatasaray, who came to this final league day tied at 81 points with Beşiktaş but second by a difference of two goals, also achieved on Saturday a comfortable 3-1 victory at home in the visit of Malatyaspor, but it was not enough and ends the season 2nd and without another title by just one goal difference, although it got a pass to the Champions League.
This is in fact the second time that Galatasaray cannot be proclaimed league champion due to goal difference; curiously, the last time this happened was in the 1985-1986 season… losing precisely to Beşiktaş.
Fenerbahçe worked the miracle in Kayseri… but it wasn’t enough
For its part, Fenerbahçe, also with title aspirations although it needed a victory and depended on its other two rivals losing their respective matches, had to settle for third place despite achieving a miraculous victory in Kayseri, getting back in the match with two goals of Valencia (penalty) and Aziz – with a spectacular goal in which the ball crossed the area in a parable, slipping over the crossbar – both achieved in the injury time.
The usual mass celebrations of league titles in Turkey were in this case mitigated by restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, despite which many Beşiktaş fans ignored them and took to the streets to celebrate the title, often without masks and without keeping social distance.
The last time Beşiktaş was proclaimed champion of the Turkish league was in the 2016-2017 season. Coached by Sergen Yalçın, club’s former star player, the Istanbul team now has a chance to win another title if it gets to beat Antalyaspor in the Turkish Cup final on Tuesday. Finally, it must be remembered that next season the Turkish Super League will be reduced to 20 teams (this year the last 4 are relegated), after the TFF decided last year that there would be no relegations.
Results of the 42nd week of the Super league (final)
MKE Ankaragücü 0 – 1 Aytemiz Alanyaspor
Demir Grup Sivasspor 2 – 1 Kasımpaşa
Çaykur Rizespor 0 – 2 Medipol Başakşehir
Atakaş Hatayspor 0 – 1 Gaziantep FK
Fatih Karagümrük 5 – 1 Yukatel Denizlispor
Fraport TAV Antalyaspor 0 – 0 İttifak Holding Konyaspor
Hes Kablo Kayserispor 1 – 2 Fenerbahçe
Galatasaray 3 – 1 Helenex Yeni Malatyaspor
Göztepe 1 – 2 Beşiktaş
Trabzonspor 2 – 1 Gençlerbirliği
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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