Galatasaray eye turnaround after last week's derby loss

By Emre Asikci

ANKARA (AA) - This week reigning Turkish champions Galatasaray are itching to shake off Sunday's derby loss in the top-tier Super Lig.

The Lions will take on Caykur Rizespor on Friday to begin Week 10 in the league. This week's opening match will be held at Turk Telekom Stadium in Istanbul at 1730GMT.

Galatasaray currently stand in 13th place with seven points, still smarting from their 1-0 loss to Besiktas in Sunday’s Istanbul Derby.

The defeat put Galatasaray pressure.

Separately the Istanbul club's fans have been seeking the return of Colombian star Radamel Falcao, who faced problems with his Achilles tendon.

Galatasaray fans had high expectation for Falcao after he was signed, but he scored only one goal in five appearances this season.

The Lions forward last appeared in the UEFA Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain on Oct. 1 as Galatasaray had a 1-0 home loss to Paris.

Besiktas, another Istanbul club, will face Antalyaspor in an away game on Saturday, and Fenerbahce will meet IM Kayserispor at Kadir Has Stadium on Sunday.

On Saturday, Aytemiz Alanyaspor, the Super Lig leaders, will look to bag three points against Istanbul Basaksehir at Bahcesehir Okullari Stadium in Alanya, southern Turkey.

The 10th week of the Super Lig will close with a match between MKE Ankaragucu and Gaziantep FK at Eryaman Stadium in Ankara, the capital on Monday.

In current league standings, Aytemiz Alanyaspor have 18 points, followed by Fenerbahce with 17 points and Yeni Malatyaspor with 16.

- Friday:

Galatasaray - Caykur Rizespor (1730GMT)

- Saturday:

Ittifak Holding Konyaspor - Genclerbirligi (1200GMT)

Aytemiz Alanyaspor - Istanbul Basaksehir (1430GMT)

Trabzonspor - Goztepe (1430GMT)

Antalyaspor - Besiktas (1700GMT)

- Sunday:

Yukatel Denizlispor - Demir Grup Sivasspor (1100GMT)

Kasimpasa - BtcTurk Yeni Malatyaspor (1330GMT)

Istikbal Mobilya Kayserispor - Fenerbahce (1600GMT)

- Monday:

MKE Ankaragucu - Gaziantep FK (1700GMT)