Gökhan Töre

Beşiktaş increased its points advantage to five in the Turkish Süper Lig after mid-week games as it prepares to take on Hatayspor on May 1.

Its closest rival, Fenerbahçe, was held to a goalless draw at Alanyaspor on April 29, a day after the leader won 3-2 at Rizespor, leading to a huge advantage in the title race for Beşiktaş with four games to go.

Once on the verge of total humiliation in its qualification campaign, Turkey's national football team has managed to earn a direct ticket to the 2016 European Championship finals in France next summer.

Turkey snatched automatic qualification for Euro 2016 as the best third-placed team with a last-gasp goal to secure a 1-0 win at home to Iceland thanks to Selçuk ?nan's freekick on Oct. 13. 

Ankara?s Gençlerbirli?i gave Turkish Spor Toto Super League title contender Be?ikta? a big disappointment ahead of a key derby match against rival Fenerbahçe, which claimed the top of the standings in the fifth week of the campaign.