League-leaders Galatasaray defeated Beşiktaş 2-0 in critical Super League derby on Sunday, inching closer to a record-setting 21st title while leaving Beşiktaş's title hopes in tatters.
Some 50,000 fans in Türk Telekom Stadium watched The Lions' defensive midfielder Fernando and winger Garry Rodrigues put away two goals to give their team a decisive win over the Eagles.
In the 23rd minute, Fernando took advantage of a low cross into the penalty box from defender Yuto Nagatomo to score, giving Galatasaray an early lead.
Beşiktaş defender Dusko Tosic was pulled out of the match in the 65th minute with a red card for fouling Galatasaray striker Bafetimbi Gomis, who failed to score on the free kick.
In the 70th minute, a powerful shot from inside the penalty area by Rodrigues put the score at 2-0.
The win put Galatasaray at the top of league standings with 66 points, followed closely by their Istanbul rivals Medipol Başakşehir with 65 points. Beşiktaş went into the match with its lead cut to just one point, at 62 against Galatasaray's 63. Sunday's defeat put the Eagles in fourth place behind Fenerbahçe with 63. Medipol Başakşehir and Fenerbahçe are also on the trail after both routed their opponents 4-1 this week.
Beşiktaş dropped some 21 points in the second half of the season in six draws and three defeats.The clubs new marksman Alvaro Negredo could hit the net only seven times, a far cry from Mario Gomez's 28 and Cenk Tosun's 20 goals for the Eagles in the last two seasons. Despite playing all 31 matches, Negredo could not surpass Tosun's eight goals this season before the latter signed for Everton.
Beşiktaş suffered its point losses, especially during its Champions League campaign. The Black Eagles also could not use their star players Caner Erkin and Ricardo Quaresma enough, due to long suspensions.
The win is a hugely significant victory for Galatasaray, who could not win the last 11 derbies against Beşiktaş and arch-rival Fenerbahçe. The Lions were beaten six times and drew in five matches.
A league title this season would be Galatasaray's 21st. Beşiktaş has won the last two years, with a total of 15 titles. Fenerbahçe has 19 titles.
Meanwhile, Beşiktaş administration decided Thursday that it would not take the field against Fenerbahçe on May 3, contesting the Turkish Football Federation's decision to continue with the Turkish Cup semifinal match.
On April 19, the Istanbul derby was called off due to violence after Beşiktaş Manager Şenol Güneş got injured by objects flung from the stands of Fenerbahçe's Ülker Stadium.