ISTANBUL
Galatasaray have become the leaders of the Turkish Spor Toto Super League after beating a challenging Gaziantepspor team 1-0 in front of its fans on Sunday evening.
Galatasaray, the Istanbul giants, increased the pressure for Gaziantepspor starting from the beginning of the game, but could not find the dead lock-breaking goal until the 85th minute.
Defender Hakan Balta, who had not scored in the league until Sunday, scored the header after a corner with five minutes to go in the game.
With the result, Galatasaray now have a league-leading 61 points. However, third-placed Besiktas (58 pts) has not played yet and they will meet with Karabukspor on Monday.
Hakan Balta's game-winning goal recorded was as the 200th goal in Turk Telekom Arena, Galatasaray's stadium.
Galatasaray managed not to concede a goal after 10 league games.
Felipe Melo, who has returned in the line-up after a 69-day lasting injury, was booked a yellow card and will not play next week.
Remaining fixtures for the 28th week:
Monday
Besiktas v Karabukspor
Current standings are as follows:
| Rank |
Team
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
Pts |
+/- |
| 1 |
Galatasaray |
28 |
19 |
4 |
5 |
52 |
34 |
61 |
+18 |
| 2 |
Fenerbahce |
28 |
18 |
6 |
4 |
47 |
21 |
60 |
+26 |
| 3 |
Besiktas |
27 |
18 |
4 |
5 |
47 |
25 |
58 |
+22 |
| 4 |
Bursaspor |
28 |
13 |
8 |
7 |
56 |
37 |
47 |
+19 |
| 5 |
Istanbul Basaksehir |
28 |
12 |
11 |
5 |
39 |
23 |
47 |
+16 |
| 6 |
Trabzonspor |
28 |
12 |
11 |
5 |
51 |
41 |
47 |
+10 |
| 7 |
Mersin Idmanyurdu |
28 |
11 |
6 |
11 |
45 |
40 |
39 |
+5 |
| 8 |
Torku Konyaspor |
28 |
10 |
8 |
10 |
26 |
34 |
38 |
-8 |
| 9 |
Genclerbirligi |
28 |
9 |
9 |
10 |
41 |
38 |
36 |
+3 |
| 10 |
Gaziantepspor |
28 |
10 |
5 |
13 |
25 |
37 |
35 |
-12 |
| 11 |
Akhisar Belediyespor |
28 |
8 |
9 |
11 |
36 |
43 |
33 |
-7 |
| 12 |
Kasimpasa |
28 |
8 |
8 |
12 |
44 |
57 |
32 |
-13 |
| 13 |
Sivasspor |
28 |
8 |
7 |
13 |
34 |
39 |
31 |
-5 |
| 14 |
Eskisehirspor |
28 |
7 |
10 |
11 |
33 |
42 |
31 |
-9 |
| 15 |
Çaykur Rizespor |
28 |
7 |
7 |
14 |
34 |
47 |
28 |
-13 |
| 16 |
Karabukspor |
27 |
5 |
6 |
16 |
31 |
44 |
21 |
-13 |
| 17 |
Kayseri Erciyesspor |
28 |
4 |
9 |
15 |
31 |
49 |
21 |
-18 |
| 18 |
Balikesirspor |
28 |
4 |
8 |
16 |
34 |
55 |
20 |
-21 |
