Football news - Ayew equalises after Babel opener as Fenerbahce and Besiktas play out draw

Andre Ayew grabbed an equaliser for Fenerbahce as they played out an entertaining draw with fierce rivals Besiktas.

Ryan Babel had opened the scoring just before half-time with a very well-taken effort, showing excellent control as he took the ball down, turned, and held off the approaching defenders before curling in his shot from distance.

But Ayew - who had been disappointing up till then - rose to head home a cross 19 minutes from time to ensure that honours were even.

The hosts had dominated much of the first half, encouraged by a loud and supportive crowd, with Hasan Ali and Islam Slimani both creating and missing chances to put their side in front.

By the final whistle, though, a score draw was probably the right result - a reward for both teams' attacking intent.

The atmosphere. It was noisy, and partisan, but thankfully no major incidents after the time these two sides met back in April, when their Turkish Cup semi-final second leg was abandoned after the visitors' head coach Senol Gunes was struck on the head by an object.

Islam Slimani (Fenerbahce): The Leicester loanee was so impressive all evening, winning the ball in midfield and spearheading the attack.

Fenerbahce: Harun 7, Sener 7, Roman 7, Reyes 7, Hasan Ali 8, Mehmet Topal 6, Ayew 6, Aatif 7, Jailson 6, Benzia 6, Slimani 8. Subs - Volkan, Isla, Ismail, Eljif 6, Frey, Alper, Mehmet Ekici, Baris, Valbuena 6, Yigithan

Besiktas: Karius 7, Gokhan 6, Pepe 7, Vida 7, Caner 7, Atiba 6, Oguzhan 6, Tolgay 7, Lens 6, Quaresma 7, Babel 7. Subs - Tolga, Utku, Fatih, Necip, Roco, Dorukham, Gokhan, Ljajic 6, Love, Larin 6

28' - CLOSE! Tremendous effort from Hasan Ali, stinging the palms of Karius from range with a curling shot.

35' - CLOSE! Again from Ali, who hits the top of the crossbar this time!

40' - GOAL! Fenerbahce 0-1 Besiktas. Well, wouldn't you know it? Babel strikes just before half-time. It's a long ball forward and he does well to control it, turn, hold off three men around him, then shoot from outside the box, curling his effort into the net. Nicely done.

71' - GOAL! Fenerbahce 1-1 Besiktas. Fenerbahce are back in it, and what a roar! A smart cross from the left, and a majestic leap from Ayew to nod that away!

80' - CHANCE! Vida rises to meet the ball in from the right, but he's falling backwards as he gets his head to it, and it's over the bar.

Hasan Ali has three assists to his name so far this season.