İstanbul BB and Eskişehirspor share spoils in Europa League group opener

Former Beşiktaş striker Batuhan Karadeniz put visiting Eskişehirspor ahead in the 26th minute, redirecting a perfect pass from left back Erkan Zengin past flabbergasted İstanbul BB keeper Oğuzhan Bahadır and into the back of the net.

Both sides had their chances after that, but there were no other goals in the first half of the match.

After the break host İstanbul BB upped the pressure, and Zafer Turan's men got a deserved equalizer in the 57th, when Brazilian midfielder Doka Madureira -- real name Francisco Lima da Silva -- headed home a cross from the right flank by 23-year-old Bingöl-born Zeki Korkmaz to level things up.

İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor coach Arif Erdem, a former Galatasaray and Turkey striker, was serving a touchline ban, so his assistant, Turan, had to deputize for him.

It is worthy to note that this game was played in heavy rain in İstanbul. Why the Beşiktaş-Galatasaray match was called off minutes before kickoff but the İstanbul BB-Eskişehirspor game was allowed to take place -- on the same day and in the same rain-drenched city -- poses more questions than answers.

The Europa League group winner will face the team that finishes fourth in the Super Final for a berth in the Europa League qualifiers next season.

Remaining matches

Week 2: April 21-22

Bursaspor vs. İstanbul BB

Eskişehirspor vs. Sivasspor

Week 3: April 28-29

Eskişehirspor vs. Bursaspor

İstanbul BB vs. Sivasspor

Week 4: May 2-3

Bursaspor vs. Eskişehir

Sivasspor vs. İstanbul BB

Week 5: May 5-6

Eskişehir vs. İstanbul BB

Bursaspor vs. Sivasspor

Week 6: May 12-13

İstanbul BB vs. Bursaspor

Sivasspor vs. Eskişehirspor