Istanbul rivals out for cup derby

A well-motivated Turkish Spor Toto Super League leader Beşiktaş will take on archrival Fenerbahçe on Feb. 5 in a Ziraat Turkey Cup last 16 stage "do or die" game. 

Beşiktaş, which climbed to the top of the standings on matchday 18, put five goals past a strong Konyaspor on Jan. 30 to maintain a two-point cushion over Medipol Başakşehir.

"Despite facing a difficult opponent, we made the game easy for ourselves with early goals and by keeping the ball in their own half," coach Şenol Güneş said after the game. "Our striker Cenk Tosun had a great match with a hat-trick, but he must run more up front."

Still, more rivalry awaits Cenk, as fan favorite Demba Ba, who played for the Black Eagles during the 2014/2015 season, contributing 18 goals in 29 matches, rejoined the squad on loan from the Shanghai Shenhua FC of China. 

"I can't wait to step on that magical pitch of the Vodafone Arena," said the Senegalese striker after signing his contract.

Ba is not the only former Black Eagle returning to the nest from the east, as defender Ersan Adem Gülüm also arrived from Hebei China Fortune on loan after a one-year break. 

Winger Ryan Babel and defender Matej Mitrovic are the two other newcomers, who all signed in a ceremony on Jan. 30. 

'We are Fenerbahçe'

Fenerbahçe, meanwhile, is looking to find some relief following a 4-1 league defeat against Kayserispor away. 
The Yellow Canaries are in fourth spot in the league, nine points behind Beşiktaş.

Coach Dick Advocaat's options have not been widened during the summer break but problematic striker Emmanuel Emenike and Dutch defender Gregory van der Wiel have been forgiven after a six-week ban due to discipline reasons.