Fenerbahce travel to Eyupspor on Sunday with the title race already settled and the season’s pressure now shifting to the other end of the table. Eyupspor need a point to guarantee their place in the top flight next season, while Fenerbahce arrive locked into second position behind Galatasaray.
The Istanbul club’s campaign has already produced enough to show why they will finish as runners-up for a fifth successive year. Fenerbahce have recorded 10 draws from their 33 matches, but they have also found rhythm in recent weeks, scoring three goals in each of their victories over Istanbul Basaksehir and Konyaspor. The 3-0 win over Konyaspor last time out sealed second place, and it came after Domenico Tedesco was sacked following the 3-0 defeat to Galatasaray last month. Zeki Murat Gole is now in charge on an interim basis, and he will want the side to end the run with another sharp performance away from home.
There is still plenty for Fenerbahce to lean on. They are unbeaten at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium this season with 11 wins and five draws, and that home form has provided a steady base even in a year that has fallen short of expectations. Gole may look to freshen the full-back areas, with Mert Muldur and Archie Brown both possible returns after coming on as substitutes against Konyaspor. Yigit Demir could start in the centre of defence, while Ismail Yuksek may also come back into midfield. Ederson, meanwhile, is still suspended.
Eyupspor come into the match with more at stake. Atila Gerin’s side have moved to the brink of survival after taking four points from their last two away outings and stretching their unbeaten run to four matches. They beat Rizespor 4-0 last time out, a result that lifted belief further, but their away record remains a concern. Eyupspor have won only three of their 16 away contests and have collected just 13 points on the road in total, figures that explain why one more point is still required to make safety certain.
That cushion could still be tested if results elsewhere go against them. A win for Antalyaspor over Kocaelispor and a loss for Eyupspor would allow Antalyaspor to overtake them on head-to-head record. Kasimpasa would still need to avoid defeat at Galatasaray for Eyupspor to come under threat of relegation to the second tier, so the picture is not fully settled yet even with Gerin’s team so close to the finish line.
Eyupspor are not expected to make changes to their starting XI unless fitness problems intervene, but one key absentee remains Angel Torres, who is suspended. The man in form is Umut Bozok, who has delivered two goals and five assists across his last three games, though he did not record a goal or assist in the 1-1 draw with Kayserispor. Against a Fenerbahce side already thinking about next season, his influence could be decisive. For Eyupspor, this is about survival. For Fenerbahce, it is about ending a season of missed opportunity with some authority intact.
