Fenerbahce will host Besiktas in a critical Spor Toto Super Lig derby match on Saturday.
Hosts Fenerbahce became title contenders in the league thanks to their excellent form in recent weeks. They have a five-match winning streak. But the visitors Besiktas are unbowed and unbeaten. Fenerbahce are in third place with 24 points while Besiktas are in second place with 28 points in the league, which is still led by dark horses Medipol Basaksehir with 30 points.
The match at Ulker Stadium will kick off at 7 p.m. local time (1600GMT), and Huseyin Gocek will officiate the derby in Kadikoy. Jeremain Lens, a Fenerbahce regular playing as right winger, is likely to miss the derby due to injury. The Dutch international got hurt in a friendly against Belgium on Nov. 9.
Fenerbahce defender Ismail Koybasi, suspended for the derby, will not play against his former club. Home team Fenerbahce is now the top scorer in the league, as the Yellow Canaries scored 28 goals in 12 matches.
But Besiktas has had no trouble scoring, as the Black Eagles racked up 24 league goals this season. Fenerbahce forwards Robin van Persie and Moussa Sow will be the goal threats for their team.
Dutch star van Persie has six goals in the Super Lig while Sow has four league goals this season.