With Fenerbahce in action on Friday evening and just a point off Galatasaray at the top, they had yet another chance to go to the summit - temporarily at least.
They have often had opportunities to do this - not just this season but also in recent campaigns - yet have always failed to do so and not put any pressure on their rivals.
At home to Rizespor, you would have thought that the players would come out of the blocks quickly, but they were strangely lethargic and flat, failing to do anything of note in the first half.
And the half-time break did them no good. In fact, it did the total opposite.
A few minutes after the interval, Rize took the lead, with Ali Sowe tapping in at the back post, much to the shock of the home fans.
The minutes started ticking away, and it wasn't looking like Fener were going to find a way through the Rize defence.
However, the game changed in the 72nd minute, when former Fener defender Samet Akaydin was sent off after being handed two yellow cards.
This was the injection of life Fener needed, and they soon found their equaliser, when Andeson Talisca scored from the spot after being fouled himself.
From that point on, another goal felt inevitable as they ramped up the pressure, and it was Kerem Akturkoglu who slid in to bundle home, sending the home crowd rapturous.
Surely that was it. 2-1 up against 10 men at home. They were going to go to the top of the table.
But, as it always seems to do for Fenerbahce, disaster struck.
In the 98th minute of the game, Rizespor had a free kick in their own half. Fenerbahce just had to see this out.
The goalkeeper launched a hopeful ball into the Fener penalty area, and it didn't seem too dangerous.
But former Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson decided, for some reason, to come charging out. He got nowhere near the ball and simply succeeded in leaving the goal empty.
Rizespor's Modibo Sagnan got his head on the ball, looping it up and over Ederson's head, into the back of the net and snatching a 2-2 draw, much to the devastation and bewilderment of the home faithful.
A remarkable missed opportunity for Fenerbahce. Yet this has happened time after time for them.
Whenever they have a chance to pile some pressure on Galatasaray, no matter who they are playing or how many men the opponents have on the pitch, they seem to concede a last-minute goal that snatches the three points from them.
Back in February, they had scored a stoppage-time goal against 10-man Kasimpasa to go 1-0 up, which would have sent them top. They managed to concede in the 101st minute to draw the game.
These are just two examples in a long list of missed opportunities over the last few years. It suggests that it is more of a pressure thing, and they are unable to handle the fact that they can go top.
Brutal blow after brutal blow. Could Galatasaray capitalise?
Galatasaray open up helpful cushion ahead of derby
Galatasaray took to the pitch the following day as they visited relegation-battling Genclerbirligi.
Victor Osimhen was still not back from his arm injury, with the club unwilling to risk him ahead of the clash with Fenerbahce on the weekend.
So Mauro Icardi started up front, and the Argentine gave Galatasaray a 1-0 lead inside just two minutes with a clever finish after some good work from Leroy Sane.
On the 35-minute mark, they doubled their advantage, as Yunus Akgun slotted into an empty net after Gabriel Sara put it on a plate for him.
It was looking extremely comfortable for Galatasaray as they cruised through the game.
They thought they had gone 3-0 up when Sane got on the scoresheet, but VAR ruled it out for one of the worst offside decisions you will ever see.
Galatasaray were penalised for Yunus being in an offside position, even though he was nowhere near the ball and wasn't involved with play in the slightest. It was genuinely startling.
Galatasaray players and manager Okan Buruk were fuming, and their misery was compounded when M'Baye Niang scored just minutes later to reduce the deficit for Genclerbirligi.
The game became really messy and tense from there for the away side, struggling to keep hold of the ball as Genclerbirligi desperately threw men forward in search of a point which could prove vital in their fight to stay in the Super Lig.
Ultimately, though, Galatasaray held on for such a vital 2-1 victory, which saw them open up a really helpful four-point cushion with just four games to go.
They give themselves some breathing space ahead of the home game against Fener, too. They know that if they avoid defeat, they are in business, while Fener will desperately need to win the game to have a chance in the title race.
Additionally, Osimhen will likely be back. They are twice as good a team with the Nigerian up front.
They are in pole position now, and their weekend was made even better when Trabzonspor conceded a last-minute goal to draw 1-1 with Istanbul Basaksehir. They are now six points off the summit.
Team of the Week
Gaziantep goalkeeper Zafer Gorgen is the Flashscore Player of the Week, according to our very own internal ratings system, after he made seven saves in his side's 3-0 victory over Kayserispor.
He is joined by teammates Deian Sorescu, Alexandru Maxim and Mohamed Bayo, while Galatasaray's Yunus and Fenerbahce's Kerem also make the XI.