Turkish league leader Fener visits derby-phobic Be?ikta?

As Italian coach Pereira settles issues with Dutch star Robin van Persie, Fenerbahçe goes to Be?ikta? with high morale. Turkish Spor Toto Super League leader Fenerbahçe is set to visit Be?ikta? Sept. 27 in the top game of week six in a bid to increase the point gap over its Istanbul rival to six, while the home side will try to break its derby phobia. 

Be?ikta?, which will host Fener at Olympiat Stadium as its historic ?nönü Stadium by the Bosphorus is still under re-construction, is also eyeing the top spot in the standings, depending on its big guns, namely German striker Mario Gomez, talented Portuguese Ricardo Quaresma and rising star Gökhan Töre. 

The return of O?uzhan Özyakup from injury also promises much to the fans of the Istanbul side, which suffered a draw against Ankara?s Gençlerbirli?i last week in his absence. 

Fener meanwhile has rising expectations for Robin van Persie and Nani, another former Manchester United player. 

?We are in very good shape as a team. I cannot wait for the Be?ikta? game on the weekend,? van Persie told Fenerbahçe?s official broadcaster. ?This will be my first derby in the country,? he added. The Dutch star also ruled out recent media reports that claimed he was uneasy with Italian boss Vitor Pereira. 

The Black and Whites lost six of eight derbies in the past two years, while drawing the other two, under coach Slaven Bilic, who flew to the Premier League?s West Ham United this summer to become a giant killer there. 

Be?ikta? has only two wins in the past 20 derby games, which usually involves matchups between Istanbul sides Be?ikta?, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray in Turkish top-tier football, in the past four years. 

With the arrival of ?enol Güne?,...