Surprise package Başakşehir out to continue chase of Turkish Super League leader

The Spor Toto Turkish Super League resumes this weekend after a national team break with Medipol Başakşehir, in hot pursuit of leader Beşiktaş, visiting relegation-threatened Akhihsar Belediyespor on April 1. 

The biggest headache for Başakşehir is the absence due to suspension of veteran midfielder Emre Belözoğlu in the noon clash with Akhisar, which plays its home matches in the center of the western town of Manisa.
 
Coach Abdullah Avcı's team will be looking to return to winning ways after drawing against Kardemir Karabükspor last week. Başakşehir remains on 55 points, two points behind Beşiktaş. 

Responding to state-run Anadolu Agency over his team's title potential, Avcı said he could speak more clearly after the crunch home game against Beşiktaş in a few weeks. 

"If we can go there in a situation similar to today, then it will be right to speak about such things," he said. 

"I hope Beşiktaş will continue to use all its strength and focus in the Europa League," he added. 

Okan Buruk, who will have his first test as the new Akhisar Belediyespor head coach, ended his career in 2010 as a player at Başakşehir, which was then named Istanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor. 

"Buruk is like my brother," Avcı said. "But I will only wish him luck after our game." 

Başakşehir's young star Cengiz Ünder, buoyed after scoring his first Turkish international goal against Moldova on March 27 in a pre-World Cup 2018 friendly, is one yellow card away from suspension, along with team mates Marcio Mossoro, Uğur Uçar and Alexandru Epureanu.

That is a potential hurdle for the relatively low-budget Başakşehir, just one week ahead of a tough game against third-place Galatasaray. 

Beşiktaş, meanwhile,...