Crumbling champions to struggle again
Besiktas v Galatasaray
Monday 25 October, 18:00
Like a middle-distance runner kicking for home, Tobias finished the week with four straight winners. Sevilla made him sweat like a middle-distance runner at various stages yesterday, before eventually landing his Asian Handicap bet with a chaotic 5-3 win over Levante.
We'll kick off our week in Turkey, because there's an Istanbul derby to enjoy between Besiktas and Galatasaray, and the market doesn't seem to have adjusted to the hosts' current crisis.
Besiktas won the Turkish Super Lig title on the final day last season, but this term they have been undone by a crippling injury list and a collapse in their defence. The Black Eagles have suffered five defeats across an eight-game stretch, including four defeats in the last five, and they have leaked 19 goals in the process.
Besiktas have lost all three of their Champions League games, and are currently sixth in the top flight, seven points off top spot. Although the injury situation has eased somewhat, veteran midfielder Atiba Hutchinson is still missing, with Georges-Kevin Nkoudou and Mehmet Topal also sidelined.
Galatasaray are been far from flawless themselves, but they are currently on the charge, having won five of their last seven matches. Their last defeat was over a month ago, and they have only lost one of their last nine away matches in all competitions.
We can back Galatasaray +0 & +0.5 on the Asian Handicap here at 1.981/1, which means we get a half-win if the game is drawn, and a full win at close to evens if Galatasaray take all three points.
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