sportbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Besiktas Win Super Lig By One-Goal Margin Over Galatasaray In Stunning Final Day

Besiktas Win Super Lig By One-Goal Margin Over Galatasaray In Stunning Final Day

Goal difference: Come to Besiktas.

Alex Reid

Alex Reid

Besiktas won the Super Lig from rivals Galatasaray via the slenderest of margins - by one goal on goal difference - in an incredibly dramatic final day of the Turkish league season.

All three of the major Istanbul sides had a chance to win the Super Lig going into the last round of games. Fenerbahce were two points back, but Besiktas and Galatasaray sat level on 81 points.

Galatasaray were actually winning the title after an hour, as they led 2-1 over Yeni Malatyaspor while Besiktas were drawing 1-1 Goztepe. However a 69th-minute penalty from Algerian winger Rachid Ghezzal - on loan from Leicester City - gave Besiktas a 2-1 win.

That meant Galatasay had to overhaul their rival's narrowly superior goal difference and they did score again, through Oculgan Caglayan, to triumph 3-1.

But that left Galatasaray on 84 points with a goal difference of +44, while Besiktas ended the season on 84 points with a goal difference of +45.

Which was enough to win them the league - by the very closest of margins.

An amazing last day and - as you can imagine - the mathematical calculations were flying around, with both Galatasaray and Besiktas able overtake one another if they scored enough goals (and Fenerbahce poised to pounce if both teams somehow slipped up).

However the penalty from Ghezzal, plus an earlier goal from Croatian defender Domagoj Vida, proved enough to help the Black Eagles to their first Super Lig title since 2017.

And it could hardly have been any closer or more enthralling on a final day that will live long in the memory of Turkish football fans.

Featured image credit: Twitter/Besiktas

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Football, Super Lig, Galatasaray, Turkey, Besiktas