Football Results

This semi-final match of the Turkish Cup is definitely far more attractive that the second one between Akhisar and Galatasaray. Fact that great city rivals Besiktas and Fenerbahce meet just four days ago in the league gives an additional charm to the match. Besiktas won 3-1 after trailing behind and now the two teams have the same number of points, while at the same time they lag behind leading due, Basaksehir and Galatasaray for three points.

Besiktas

For reigning champions of Turkey it is the most important that they are back in the race for the title after winning great derby with Fenerbahce, especially as they won three new points after losing 1-0 at the halftime. At the beginning of the second half stopper Vida rectified his mistake from the first half of the match and equalised with header 1-1. After him experienced Portuguese Quaresma scored two times, in 77 and 94 minutes, and brought a great victory to his team.

In that way Besiktas not only equalised with Fenerbahce in number of points but it also put an end to five-game winless streak in their head-to-head, while at the same time it inflicted the first defeat to its great city rival in last five months. Regarding the 1st semi-final leg of the Turkish Cup, manager Gunes will probably shuffle the cards especially as he can again count on stopper Pepe and midfielder Talisca, while out of action are just injured stopper Nukan and midfielder Tore.

Probable lineups Besiktas: Fabri – Gonul, Pepe, Tosic, Erkin – Medel, Ozyakup – Quaresma, Talisca, Lens – Negredo

Fenerbahce

Unlike its great city rival Fenerbahce players cannot be satisfied with result of their Sunday’s match in the Turkish Super Lig, especially as they had a lead of 1-0 at the halftime. However, in the second half Fenerbahce defence lost concentration and its players were especially careless in the very finish when they conceded two goals and lost one point they had before that, with which they would keep the third place in the table.

True, Fenerbahce hasn’t dropped from the race for the title as it has the same number of points like 3rd-placed Besiktas, while it lags behind leading Basaksehir and Galatasaray for just three points. After their 21-game unbeaten streak ended on Sunday evening manager Kocaman has chance to revenge to Besiktas in the Cup. We expect that the starting line-up will undergo some changes, while from before out of action is just injured forward Janssen.

Probable lineups Fenerbahce: Demirel – Ozbayrakli, Neto, Skrtel, Kaldirim – Neustadter, Souza – Potuk, Giuliano, Valbuena – Soldado

Verdict:

Although their league match played just four days ago had ended with four scored goals we expect that both teams be more careful in the semi-final of the Turkish Cup, especially as the 2nd leg is scheduled for mid-April at Fener’s stadium.

Pick:  under 2.5 goals 2.11 - 111/100 @1XBet