Turkish Spor Toto Super League

After a series of unexpected results have dismantled Galatasaray, Beşiktaş and Fenerbahçe in the first half of the Turkish Spor Toto Super League season, it was Başakşehir who was crowned the winter champion with 35 points. 

Turkish Spor Toto Super League leader Galatasaray hosts minnow city rival Kasımpaşa on Sept. 16, aiming to continue its perfect home record so far this season.

The Istanbul club, which made more than 10 additions to its squad over the summer, has made a fast start to the season, winning its first three games in style before being held to a 1-1 draw at Antalyaspor last week.

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.

Medipol Başakşehir, the dark horse of the Turkish Spor Toto Super League, has finished the first half of the season on top of the standings, one point ahead of defending champion Beşiktaş, despite a draw over the weekend. 

Istanbul underdog Medipol Başakşehir thrashed Akhisar Belediyespor 5-1 at home on Oct. 30 to remain atop the Turkish Spor Toto Super League, as its closest rival Beşiktaş dropped two points against Gençlerbirliği in Ankara.
Başakşehir has won seven of its first nine games of the season, remaining unbeaten for the past 18 matches from last season. 

Turkish Spor Toto Super League leader Medipol Başakşehir stormed Mediterranean resort city's Aytemiz Alanyaspor on Oct. 2, taking another step toward proving that it is not the rabbit in the marathon but a merciless serious title contender.

It was not game fever but violence that marked Turkish football over the weekend, with an assistant referee being attacked by a fan during a top-tier game between Fenerbahçe and Trabzonspor, while executives of Amedspor were also beaten by a mob in the capital after a game against Ankaragücü.  

The Turkish Spor Toto Super League match between Fenerbahçe and Trabzonspor late on April 24 was abandoned in the 89th minute after Trabzonspor fans stormed on to the pitch and attacked an official.

Istanbul side Fenerbahçe, who is second in the standings, was leading 4-0 after goals by Alper Potuk, Volkan ?en, Luis Nani and Robin van Persie. 

Turkey's Be?ikta? said in a filing to the stock exchange on Jan. 20 that it is in talks with Aras Özbiliz, the rising Armenian star of Russia's Spartak Moscow. However, the title contender does not plan to enroll the Istanbul-born midfielder this season, but send him on loan to Spain's Getafe, according to sources. 

Norwegian international footballer Martin Linnes arrived in Istanbul on Jan. 12 to sign a contract with Galatasaray.

"I know Galatasaray is a big club," right-back Linnes told the Istanbul side's official broadcaster on arrival at the airport.