The Ziraat Turkish Cup semi-finals have showcased the immense depth of the Istanbul giants. Beşiktaş and Fenerbahçe have navigated intense two-legged ties to move closer to domestic silverware. "In the cup, there is no second place, only winners and those who watch," remarked a Beşiktaş veteran.
The tactical hallmark of this year's cup has been the 'inverted fullback' system utilized by the top clubs to dominate possession in the central third, a trend that has finally trickled down from European competition to the domestic cup stages.