League Focus: Turkish Super Lig - Europe's Most Entertaining Title Race

A ‘three horse race’ is how we described the league standings after the winter break, three months on and it is still neck and neck, heading to a photo finish.

The main actors have not changed, Beşiktaş are first on 61 points, Galatasaray are second to Bilic’s men only on goal difference and Fenerbahçe are third, just a point behind their Istanbul rivals. Just a week ago, the Black Eagles were second, Galatasaray were third and the Yellow Canaries were first.

The 2014/15 season was named the ‘Süleyman Seba season’ in honour of the legendary Beşiktaş president who passed away last year. However, the foreword going into the league campaign would have been less about the Black Eagles, more about their noisy neighbours. Nineteen time title-holders Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe were supposed to be going blow for blow in an attempt to win an unprecedented 20th league title and earn the right to a fourth star.

Beşiktaş were not expected to be in the running. The club is still in transition, recovering from a financial crisis, and are without a home stadium. The Black Eagles have played in Istanbul, Konya and have made the Osmanlı stadium in Ankara their makeshift nest until the end of the season.

The path to the top has been anything but smooth. Beşiktaş were talking about a potential Europa League final after sending Liverpool packing but crashed out in the quarter-finals against Club Brugge. The Eagles’ European competition trauma was followed by another derby defeat and a draw. There was talk of a crisis. The media had already started gossiping about replacements for Bilic but the Croatian manager has managed to steady the ship.

His attacking quartet, comprised of Demba Ba, Jose Sosa, Olcay Şahan and Gökhan Töre, flourished for much of the season. However, Sosa missed a few weeks out with injury, Şahan has not been at his best and even Ba has been stuttering.

Töre has been the Eagles beacon of light through their times of need. The Turkish international has a career high 9 goals – and 10 assists - and has established himself as the player Beşiktaş turn to for a creative spark. The former Chelsea man has tormented opposition defences, with no other player in the league averaging more dribbles per game (2.3) and only Sosa pulling off more key passes per match in the Beşiktaş side.

The fantastic four may not be so fab anymore but Atiba Hutchinson is keeping the team together. The Eagles’ unsung hero has been sweeping up in front of a shaky defence and passing with an accuracy (90%) unmatched by any other player in the league. Bilic will need to keep the Canadian international fit and the return of Veli ‘crazy’ Kavlak will add some physicality to a midfield that has been lacking muscle over recent weeks.

Meanwhile, Galatasaray boss Hamza Hamzaoğlu has done a terrific job considering he took over a side in turmoil back in November. Hamzaoğlu is averaging 2.12 points per game in the league and has managed to get the best out of his highest paid players.

There was talk of selling Selçuk Inan before the 45-year-old coach’s arrival. Inan is now the 6th highest rated player in the league (7.41), he also averages more passes than any other player (60) and has the highest number of assists for his side (7). Wesley Sneijder, Burak Yılmaz and even players that were expected to remain on the peripheries such as Yasin Öztekin have thrived under his command.

The Lions do, however, have an Achilles’ heel. Galatasaray’s defending does at times leave a lot to be desired. Fernando Muslera is currently experiencing his worst season in terms of goals conceded. The irony is the Uruguayan international has played a key role in the Lions still being in the title race.

The blame for the number of goals Galatasaray have shipped falls primarily with the back four. An average of 13.9 shots per game are taken by opposition sides - the highest in the top seven. If it were not for Muslera making an average of 3.1 saves per game Galatasaray could have conceded many more than the 34 they already have.

Hamzoğlu does not have the time to rectify his sides defensive woes with just six games remaining so he will be relying on his side to keep firing on all cylinders. It has worked so far, Galatasaray have conceded more than their two rivals but also scored more (52).

The very fact that the league is still being played is down to the quick reactions of Fenerbahçe team bus driver Ufuk Kıran who managed to prevent the vehicle and its 40 passengers flying off the cliffs of Trabzon while having a bullet lodged in his head. The near-disaster resulted in the league being suspended for a week. The assailants are still at large but football has resumed.

The Yellow Canaries are statistically the best performing side in the league in most areas. The Istanbul giants keep the most possession (58%), take the most shots on goal per game (17.6), make the second highest number of passes per match (399) and boast the highest average rating (7.15).

The Canaries do, however, have one pressing issue. Fenerbahçe have one of the worst conversion rates in the league (9%). Fans had been in dismay over how Emmanuel Emenike has been able to keep his place in the team. The Nigerian international only has five goals all season.

Fenerbahçe manager Ismail Kartal may lack experience but he is in charge of a side comprised of players that know exactly how to get the job done. The Canaries have players that have won countless domestic and European titles. The same set of players won the league title last season but Kartal will have to find a solution to his side’s profligacy over the remaining weeks.

There has never been a title race this tight since the introduction of the current Süper Lig format in 1994/95. The last time the league was so closely contested in the 28th round was back in 1962/63 and even then there was a two-point gap. Six weeks remain, including a potentially title-deciding Istanbul derby between Beşiktaş and Galatasaray in the penultimate week. The fun has only just begun.

Who will win the 2014/15 Turkish Super Lig? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below