Resurgent Fenerbahçe banishing autumn blues

Having stumbled out of the blocks, Fenerbahçe SK are finally getting into their stride and as they steadily climb the Süper Lig table there is nothing like a couple of derby victories to put a spring back in the step.

Big-match players
Last month Luis Aragonés's side responded to a disappointing 2-2 draw with Eskisehirspor by recovering from a goal down to thump Galatasaray AŞ 4-1. On Saturday it was second-placed Beşiktaş JK's turn, goals from Selçuk Şahin and Daniel Güiza helping extend Fenerbahçe's unbeaten Süper Lig run to eight games. "It was a crucial derby win," said defender Diego Lugano, whose weekend task was made easier as the visitors played the second half with ten men following Edouard Cissé's dismissal. "We want to win the league trophy and to do that we must defeat the teams above us the table. We managed just that and our run to the summit has started. Fenerbahçe players prepare for every match in the same way but big players perform in big games."

Rise
These big games are helping to put distance between Fenerbahçe and a tumultuous autumn. Fresh from leading Spain to UEFA EURO 2008™ glory, Aragonés's arrival in July brought great promise. However, six games into the Turkish league season and the Yellow Canaries had already lost four times – only one less than they suffered in the whole of last term. They are yet to completely recover, last week's 2-1 defeat by FC Porto ensuring there would be no repeat of April's UEFA Champions League quarter-final appearance. Yet among the barren wasteland have sprung oases of hope with two derby wins fuelling renewed belief in domestic competition.

Selçuk spark
Selçuk Şahin has been at the heart of the revival, his goal against Beşiktaş adding to another against Galatasaray as he profits from a small tactical change made by Aragonés. "I go forward at set-pieces because our coach requested it," explained the midfielder. "I've scored three this season and all came because of this ploy. It's a big pleasure to perform in derby matches." That theme was picked up by Uğur Boral who admitted he was "better motivated for such games". The challenge for Aragonés and Fenerbahçe is to transfer that impetus to other Süper Lig fixtures. The signs are good: twelfth two months ago, the Beşiktaş win lifted them to a season-high of fifth, five points off Trabzonspor at the summit.