When Trabzonspor's team news for their visit to last year’s champions Galatasaray was revealed, the inclusion of injury returnee Anthony Nwakaeme stood out. The upshot of the forward’s two-game layoff, absent against Alanyaspor and Ankaragucu, was four points dropped for Huseyin Cimsir’s side.
As a result, the Super Lig title-chasers were usurped at the top of the table by Istanbul Basaksehir, whose 2-0 win over Antalyaspor on Saturday took them five points clear at the top. Trabzonspor had to get the better of Fatih Terim’s side a day later if they wanted to keep pace with the leaders who threatened to run away with the title in the final weeks.