Mesut Ozil

Former Real Madrid and Arsenal midfielder Mesut Özil signed with Istanbul Başakşehir on July 14 after leaving fellow Turkish club Fenerbahçe.

Istanbul Başakşehir said the deal with Özil was for a one-year contract with an optional extension for another year.

Google's annual recap of 2021's top trending searches in Turkey has shown the most googled word this year was "EBA giriş" (EBA log in), to get access to the website of the state-run Education Information Network (EBA) channel which was set up for students who had to continue education online due to the pandemic.

Fenerbahçe breathed a sigh of relief on Nov. 21 night in the Turkish Süper Lig, coming from behind to beat archrival Galatasaray 2-1 in an away game.

The victory in the tense game was Fenerbahçe's first league win in five games and came at a time coach Vitor Pereira and club chairman Ali Koç were under immense pressure.

Following the international break, football fans in Turkey eye the coming intercontinental derby between Istanbul's fierce rivals, Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, on Nov. 21.

The two teams are now quite far from the top of the league, so both need a victory to grip the title race in the Turkish Spor Toto Süper Lig.

Fenerbahçe managed to get a 2-2 draw against Yukatel Kayserispor with a last minute goal in the Turkish Süper Lig week 12 game on Nov. 7.

Irfan Can Kahveci missed the chance to take the lead for Fenerbahçe as he could not score a penalty in the 33rd minute.

But Kayserispor drew first blood with Dimitrios Kolovetsios' goal in the 39th minute.

Galatasaray beat Lazio 1-0 in the UEFA Europa League Group E match on Sept. 16. 

Lazio's Albanian goalie Thomas Strakosha scored an own goal in the 67th minute at Ali Sami Yen Sports Complex (Turk Telekom Stadium), Istanbul.

Galatasaray took the top spot with three points, while Marseille placed 2nd with one point in Group E.

Defending champion Beşiktaş was held to a goalless draw at Gaziantep in Week 2 of the Turkish Süper Lig as other title contenders added another to their victories in the opening week.

Galatasaray claimed a 2-1 home victory against Hatayspor on Aug. 23, while Fenerbahçe beat visiting Antalyaspor 2-0 with late goal on Aug. 22 and Trabzonspor defeated Sivasspor 2-1.

Fenerbahçe started the season with a 1-0 away victory over Adana Demirspor on Aug. 15.  

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Neither team was able to break the deadlock in the first half at Yeni Adana Stadium.

But Fenerbahçe star Mesut Özil brought victory to the Istanbul football club with a close-range finish in the 46th minute as he netted his first goal for the team.

Fenerbahçe fought hard to get a 1-1 draw against Fraport TAV Antalyaspor in a Turkish Super Lig match on March 4, also the Istanbul club's German star Mesut Özil suffered a foot injury.

Former Real Madrid and Arsenal attacking midfielder Özil left the pitch with a stretcher in the minute 64 after Antalyaspor's Fredy tackled him.

Galatasaray claimed a 1-0 away victory against Fenerbahçe in Feb. 6's Turkish Süper Lig derby.

Fenerbahçe hosted Galatasaray at the most anticipated game of week 24 at the Ülker Stadium.

In the 39th minute, Galatasaray goalie Fernando Muslera produced a brilliant save to tip over a strike from Jose Sosa.

Neither team was able to break the deadlock in the first half.