Demba Ba

Be?ikta? reclaimed the top seat in the Super Toto Super League Feb. 8 after four weeks, in a season which has already turned into a Sisyphus effort, only one day after rival Fenerbahçe failed to find the net at home against Black Sea giants Trabzonspor.

Galatasaray lost key two points against Bursaspor Feb. 1 in its race for the top of the standings in a week that rivals Fenerbahçe and Be?ikta? enjoyed narrow wins.

Galatasaray barely snatched the 2-2 draw against Bursaspor at its home Türk Telekom Arena in a matchday 18 game.

Be?ikta? players celebrate after striker Demba Ba scored a goal against Gençlerbirli?i in a league game on Jan. 26.

Be?ikta? achieved its eighth win in nine away games this season against Ankara?s Gençlerbirli?i, claiming the second spot on the Spor Toto Super League standings, one point behind the defending champions Fenerbahçe.

The goal celebration of Beşiktaş’s Senegalese national Demba Ba, who kneels down to prostrate before God after goal, has stirred a religious debate in Turkey, with a popular televangelist declaring it a sin to perform the action in a random direction instead of toward the Kaaba.

The close follow-up continues in the Turkish Super League, with no change in the top three for a fourth week in a row Beşiktaş has defended its top seat in Turkey’s Spor Toto Super league for a fourth week in a row, beating Akhisar on Dec. 21 in an Istanbul game.

Turkey's last remaining participants in European competition, Beşiktaş and Trabzonspor, will face difficult respective tests against Liverpool and Napoli in the Europa League Round of 32 following a draw on Dec. 15 in Nyon, Switzerland.

Two Turkish teams will be out tonight in the Europa League hoping to clinch the top spots in their groups.

Beşiktaş will host Tottenham Hotspur with the Group C leadership at stake, while Trabzonspor visits Legia Warsaw in Group L.

Beşiktaş cruised past Trabzonspor 3-0 on Dec. 7 at Konya Metropolitan Torku Arena, defending its top spot on the Spor Toto Süper League standings.

Turkey’s Spor Toto Super League leader Beşiktaş will face Trabzonspor, the Black Sea giant that has enjoyed a comeback under new coach Ersun Yanal, in the game of the week on Dec. 7 in the Central Anatolian province of Konya.  

Beşiktaş took over the top spot in the Spor Toto Super League standings with a hard-fought victory against Kardemir Karabükspor.

The Istanbul club’s Senegalese Demba Ba striker scored twice for the visiting Black Eagles as they beat Karabükspor 2-1 yesterday to move to the top of the table with 23 points.