Fenerbahçe challenges undefeated Beşiktaş

A rising Fenerbahçe, which has won its last eight games, will host historic rival Beşiktaş on Dec. 3 looking to maintain an 11-year undefeated record in derby games.

Beşiktaş, meanwhile, is out to extend its unbeaten run in three competitions - the Spor Toto Super League, Champions League and the Ziraat Turkey Cup. 

But Fenerbahçe fans are entertaining great expectations from Moussa Sow, its prolific Senegalese striker who scored a hat-trick against Çaykur Rizespor last week, pacing his side to a 5-1 win.

Sow, who returned to the Istanbul side last summer following one year away with the United Arab Emirates' al-Ahli, has scored seven goals against Beşiktaş in eight appearances. 

Fenerbahçe stores now sell Sow jerseys with his name and number written upside-down in honor of recent bicycle-kick goals against Çaykur and Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League.
 
Sow has scored 65 goals for Fenerbahçe in 160 games, while assisting on 28 others. 

Fener coach Dick Advocaat, who has received great praise in the Turkish media for the recent performance of the team following a bad start, also has confidence in his countryman Robin van Persie. The Dutch international, who scored in a derby against Galatasaray on Nov. 20 "is a very important player," Advocaat said, adding that he should return to the national team. 

Beşiktaş visits Fenerbahçe's Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium two points behind leader Başakşehir, another Istanbul team which it drew 1-1 last week, and four points ahead of third-place Fenerbahçe. 

The Black and Whites will be lucky to have Ricardo Quaresma on the pitch after the Portuguese midfielder escaped a booking and suspension in the Başakşehir game in the dying minutes.