Just a few days after their brilliant 5-2 victory over Juventus in the first leg of the Champions League play-off, Galatasaray headed to Konyaspor in the Super Lig.
Manager Okan Buruk made six changes to the team that beat Juve, resting several key players while Victor Osimhen was left out of the squad completely as a precaution.
It was always likely that Galatasaray would be laboured after their exertions in the middle of the week, and with all the changes, they really struggled to break down a hard-working, intense Konyaspor defence.
With the score at 0-0 at half-time, Mauro Icardi also had to come off due to an injury, and there continued to be a total lack of rhythm for the three-time defending champions.
Galatasaray thought they had taken the lead at the start of the second half, when Noa Lang, who was one of several players to come on at the interval, produced a bit of brilliance, which ended with Leroy Sane thumping the ball into an open net.
However, the goal was ruled out for a truly ludicrous offside decision, once again demonstrating the serious lack of common sense and quality amongst referees in Turkey.
Konyaspor capitalised on that decision and a really poor Galatasaray performance, scoring twice in the 75th and 81st minutes to seal an exceptional 2-0 win, inflicting just a second Super Lig defeat of the season on their opponents.
Konya thoroughly deserved the victory, which helped them move away from the relegation zone, and the offside call shouldn't divert away from how jaded and lacklustre Galatasaray looked. They could barely create any chances and perhaps took their opponents lightly, too, and were duly punished.
That result meant that on Monday, Fenerbahce had the chance to go level on points with Galatasaray for the first time in a very long time.
At home to a Kasimpasa team sitting in the relegation zone, Fener were coming off the back of a crushing 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest in their Europa League play-off.
With Milan Skriniar out for a few weeks, Caglar Soyuncu came into the team, but it was still expected to be a straightforward win and a big moment in the title race.
Yet, much like Galatasaray, it was a slow, lethargic and, at times, nervous display from Fener, who couldn't find any fluency.
But things kicked into life right at the end of the match.
Kasimpasa's Mortadha Ben Ouanes was sent off in the 93rd minute for a second yellow card, and Fenerbahce desperately upped the ante, searching for what would be a huge goal.
And they got exactly what they desperately wanted. That man, yet again, Marco Asensio, popped up on the edge of the box, volleying in to put Fenerbahce 1-0 up in the 95th minute.
The celebrations were rapturous. The crowd noise was off the scale. Asensio took off his shirt and sprinted down the pitch. Players on the bench swarmed him and embraced the Spaniard. Domenico Tedesco dropped to the floor. It was incredible scenes.
But what came next was even more incredible...
From ecstasy to agony
With the game into the 101st minute, 10-man Kasimpasa lumped a ball into the box. The crowd were whistling frantically, begging for a final whistle.
Andri Fannar Baldursson managed to get his head on the ball at the back post, nodding it back across goal. Matteo Guendouzi totally fell asleep, unaware that Jim Allevinah was behind him.
Signed on loan from Angers this January, he snuck in ahead of the Frenchman, took a touch, and powered the ball past Ederson in goal.
The Fenerbahce fans went dead silent. It was truly an extraordinary moment in this Super Lig season and title race.
From some of the most manic celebrations you are likely to see, to heartbreak just six minutes later, Fenerbahce were held, in the most remarkable and dramatic fashion, to a 1-1 draw.
A meteoric opportunity missed, which has been a common theme over the last few years. Every time Galatasaray have dropped points, Fenerbahce have too, in a very similar fashion in front of their home crowd.
Perhaps the weight of expectation hits them, and the nerves really grow in games of this importance. Whatever the reason, they were left crestfallen.
They will also be really disappointed by the performances of Guendouzi and N'Golo Kante. The former has been a bit headless and cumbersome so far, while the latter looks an absolute shadow of the player he once was, really finding it hard to keep up with the pace of play.
To rub salt in the wounds, Caglar, Jayden Oosterwolde, Ederson and Anderson Talisca all suffered muscle injuries that will keep them out for the next couple of weeks, leaving them seriously light in defence and up front.
It was a really gloomy Monday for Fenerbahce.
Improving Besiktas
Besiktas have been going under the radar over the last few months, and they are slowly beginning to look like a far more settled and united team under Sergen Yalcin.
On Sunday, they impressively beat Goztepe 4-0, leapfrogging their opponents into fourth in the table. Remarkably, a quarter of the goals Goztepe have conceded this season came in this game, showcasing just what a powerful defensive force they have been.
After a slow start to his Besiktas career after joining from Benfica in the summer, Orkun Kokcu's performances are improving, and he is at the heart of everything good they do, with Wilfred Ndidi offering strong protection alongside him.
Besiktas are actually unbeaten in 15 games in all competitions since November. In the league, they have won seven and drawn five since their defeat to Fenerbahce. While there are a few too many draws there, the fact that they are proving hard to beat is a good sign.
Just five points behind Trabzonspor now, they will be trying to hunt them down and secure a third-place finish.
After four seasons of underachievement since they won the league in 2020/21, they will be hoping that they can set themselves up well to be far more competitive at the top next year.
They are a massive club and spent quite a lot recently - even if it is nowhere near the money that Galatasaray and Fenerbahce have splashed. It would be good for Turkish football to see them return as a force.
Team of the Week
Ndidi is the Flashscore Player of the Week, according to our very own internal ratings system, after his goal and performance against Goztepe. He is joined by teammate Orkun.
Fenerbahce duo Asensio and Levent Mercan, and goalkeeper Andre Onana also make the XI, with the latter making six saves and keeping out 1.73 xG in Trabzonspor's 2-1 win at Gaziantep.