Wounded Fenerbahçe sets sights on Galatasaray derby

Spor Toto Super League title hopeful Fenerbahçe will travel to Galatasaray on March 20 for an Istanbul derby which will be crucial in the race for the trophy, following a disappointing night on the European stage.

The Yellow Canaries were reduced to eight men in a 4-1 defeat at Braga in a Europa League round of 16 second leg game on March 17, bidding farewell to the competition 4-2 on aggregate. 

The game was considered a "refereeing disaster" by many Fenerbahçe and Turkish fans, who argued a penalty awarded to the home side in the first half and a red card shown to the visiting side's Mehmet Topal were "ridiculous."

Turkish newspapers on March 18 were severely critical of the referee, Ivan Bebek of Croatia. 

"A murderer named Bebek" was the headline for daily Hürriyet's story, while sports daily Fanatik called him a "baby-faced murderer," since the referee's surname, Bebek, means "baby" in Turkish.

Fenerbahçe coach Vitor Pereira, who was also sent off by Bebek, was furious after the game.

"We were knocked out because of the referee," he told a post-game press conference. "We had targets for the Europa League, now we are out. We are sad, but the saddest thing is having being knocked out like this. We should have been beaten within the limits of football."

Fener's Portuguese coach noted his side needed to bounce back quickly. 

"The league is a different competition," he said. "We are one point behind Be?ikta? and the Galatasaray derby is very important. We must react quickly and forget about the Europa League."

Fenerbahçe's archrival, Galatasaray, meanwhile, will be playing its first game under newly-appointed coach Jan Olde Riekerink. The Dutchman, who previously had headed the Istanbul...