Sports
Türkiye to face USMNT in high-stakes friendly as World Cup looms
As the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup intensifies, Türkiye’s Crescent-Stars will cross the Atlantic for a vital litmus test against the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) on Saturday.
The friendly at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut, is a strategic dress rehearsal for both squads eyeing glory in 2026.
For Vincenzo Montella’s Türkiye, the fixture is a golden opportunity to measure themselves against the North American side.
The Crescent-Stars are riding high after a dominant UEFA Nations League run, most recently dismantling Hungary 3-0 on March 23.
That match highlighted the team’s blend of attacking depth and defensive discipline, hallmarks of Montella’s modern, possession-based system that pivots quickly into fast-paced transitions.
Saturday’s contest is the first of two stateside friendlies that will expose Türkiye to non-European tactics and tempo – a necessary adjustment as the World Cup approaches.
However, the timing of this clash falls outside the official FIFA international window, which means Montella may be forced to reshuffle his deck.
Several key players might be tied up with club duties, especially those preparing for the FIFA Club World Cup, which begins just a week later.
Even so, the Italian tactician is expected to field a competitive eleven that balances seasoned veterans with the country’s brightest emerging talents.
Though the final squad list remains under wraps, Montella is likely to lean on the same spine that fueled Türkiye’s recent surge.
Mert Günok, the battle-tested Beşiktaş keeper, should anchor the back, shielded by a physical and mobile defense featuring Mert Müldür, Merih Demiral, Çağlar Söyüncü and Ferdi Kadıoğlu.
The midfield trio could see İsmail Yüksek and Salih Özcan sitting deep, providing the cover and balance that allows captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu to orchestrate from the front.
The Inter Milan maestro, a set-piece specialist and midfield general, remains Türkiye’s heartbeat.
In attack, Montella may opt for a fluid trio of İrfan Kahveci, Orkun Kökçü and Kerem Aktürkoğlu, whose pace and finishing have troubled even the stiffest of European defenses.
Yet with Enes Ünal pushing for a starting spot, and prodigy Arda Güler possibly available off the bench depending on Real Madrid’s clearance, Türkiye’s options remain rich.
If Çalhanoğlu or Demiral are unavailable due to Club World Cup commitments, Montella can call on capable replacements like Galatasaray’s Kaan Ayhan or Yunus Akgün to fill the void.
Tactically, Türkiye will aim to control possession and break through the USMNT’s expected high press with quick, vertical passes.
Their midfield duo of Yüksek and Özcan is designed to absorb pressure and pivot rapidly into attack, allowing Çalhanoğlu to find pockets of space and unleash line-breaking balls.
The recent thrashing of Hungary was a textbook display: goals from Aktürkoğlu, Kahveci and Kökçü underscored the team’s attacking layers and willingness to strike from anywhere.
The USMNT, led by Mauricio Pochettino, will bring their signature intensity, pressing high, running hard and testing defensive structures.
But Türkiye’s muscle memory against elite European opponents could give them the upper hand in managing that tempo and seizing control in key moments.
Their battle-hardened core has proven they can go the distance, with their Euro 2024 quarterfinal finish offering both confidence and caution.
Beyond tactics and form, the match is packed with storylines.
This is not just about fitness or formation – it’s about Türkiye seeing how their evolving identity stacks up against CONCACAF’s best on foreign soil.
It’s about Montella integrating youth with experience, possibly unleashing a Güler moment under American lights.
And it’s about signaling intent for a World Cup campaign that could be Türkiye’s most promising in years.
Turkish football received a welcome boost in Europe as Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş and Trabzonspor went unbeaten across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League, combining for two wins and two draws.
Galatasaray delivered the week’s standout result with a comeback victory in France, while Trabzonspor maintained their perfect start in the Conference League.
Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş were held to draws after showing attacking promise and resilience in their respective matches.
The results offered encouraging signs for the Süper Lig’s European campaign, although defensive lapses continued to cost teams valuable points.
Galatasaray’s comeback
Galatasaray secured their first win of the Champions League league phase with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Lille in France on Oct. 21.
The Turkish champions made an ideal start when Yunus Akgün opened the scoring in the second minute, but Lille responded quickly through Soriba Diaoune, who equalized in the seventh minute before putting the hosts ahead again in the 39th.
Galatasaray refused to let the game slip away. Aleksey Batrakov restored parity in the 44th minute, heading home from a Roland Sallai delivery to send the teams into halftime level.
The visitors took control early in the second half when an own goal by Lille goalkeeper Berke Özer put Galatasaray ahead.
Victor Osimhen then provided the finishing touch in the 61st minute, converting after Barış Alper Yılmaz set him up to complete an impressive away performance.
The victory was particularly important after Galatasaray had lost their opening two league-phase matches.
Their ability to recover after falling behind twice demonstrated their attacking threat and determination, with Akgün, Batrakov and Osimhen making decisive contributions.
Three points in France revived their hopes of advancing to the knockout stages and gave the Turkish side renewed confidence ahead of their remaining European fixtures.
Fenerbahçe surrender late lead
Fenerbahçe were left frustrated after conceding a stoppage-time equalizer in a 2-2 draw against Slavia Prague on Oct. 20.
The Istanbul side started aggressively, with Oğuz Aydın opening the scoring in the fourth minute before Mason Greenwood doubled the lead seven minutes later following a Nélson Semedo assist.
Their early advantage, however, proved difficult to protect. Lukas Provod pulled one back for Slavia in the 15th minute, giving the visitors a route back into the contest.
Fenerbahçe continued to threaten and had opportunities to restore their two-goal cushion, but they could not put the match beyond their opponents. The punishment came in the 90th minute when Pavel Kačor scored from close range following an Emmanuel Ayaosi cross.
The draw left Fenerbahçe with two points from three league-phase matches. Although the late equalizer denied them a valuable victory, their early attacking intensity and the contributions of Aydın and Greenwood offered positives.
Their challenge now is to turn promising spells into complete performances and avoid surrendering points in the closing stages.
Beşiktaş show character after going down to 10 men
Beşiktaş earned a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace on Oct. 22, recovering from a second-half deficit before finishing the Europa League encounter with 10 players.
The Black Eagles took the lead in first-half stoppage time when Wilfred Ndidi converted after a long ball created the opportunity.
Crystal Palace responded forcefully after the break. Yéremy Pino equalized in the 51st minute, with the goal initially ruled out for offside before a video review confirmed it. Jean-Philippe Mateta then put the English side ahead four minutes later, leaving Beşiktaş facing the prospect of another difficult European night.
Junior Olaitan restored parity in the 73rd minute with a composed finish after creating space for himself, giving the home side a lifeline.
Beşiktaş’ task became more complicated when Ümit Akdağ was sent off in the 77th minute. Reduced to 10 men, they had to withstand further pressure but held on to secure a point at Tüpraş Stadium.
The result followed their 3-2 away victory over Hoffenheim earlier in the league phase, leaving Beşiktaş with seven points from three matches.
Their ability to recover from going behind and protect the draw while short-handed underlined their competitiveness, although the defensive problems that allowed Palace to take the lead will require attention.
Trabzonspor maintain perfect record
Trabzonspor continued their strong start in the Conference League with a controlled 2-0 home victory over Heart of Midlothian on Oct. 22.
The hosts broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute when Mohamed Salah converted a penalty after Franculino Dju was fouled inside the box.
Salah turned provider after the break, setting up Dju for a well-taken finish in the 58th minute to double Trabzonspor’s advantage and put the result beyond the visitors’ reach.
The Turkish side finished with 10 men after Sidny Lopes Cabral received a second yellow card in stoppage time, but their two-goal cushion ensured the dismissal did little to threaten the outcome.
The victory gave Trabzonspor six points from their opening two matches and extended their positive run under head coach Thomas Reis.
Salah’s goal and assist were among the night’s highlights, particularly as the Egyptian marked his 150th appearance in UEFA competitions. His contribution demonstrated the value of experienced players in decisive European fixtures, while Dju’s finishing provided another encouraging sign for the team.
With two wins from two, Trabzonspor have positioned themselves well for the remainder of the league phase.
Turkish football gains momentum, but challenges remain
The four clubs’ results provided a timely boost for Turkish football, with Galatasaray’s comeback win and Trabzonspor’s efficient performance standing out alongside the resilience shown by Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş.
The results also highlighted different strengths across the Süper Lig contingent. Galatasaray demonstrated their ability to recover under pressure, Trabzonspor made their chances count, and Beşiktaş showed determination after losing a player.
Fenerbahçe, meanwhile, displayed attacking quality but paid the price for failing to protect their lead.
There is still work to do. Fenerbahçe’s late concession and Beşiktaş’ defensive struggles illustrated how quickly promising European performances can be undermined by lapses in concentration.
The league phases also leave little room for complacency, with each club facing further demanding fixtures.
Nevertheless, two victories and two draws without a defeat represent an encouraging return.
The results have strengthened the Turkish clubs’ immediate European prospects and offered supporters reason to believe their teams can make deeper runs in the knockout stages.
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa endorsed Gianni Infantino’s bid for another term as FIFA president on Friday, signaling a reconciliation two months after accusing the soccer chief of a “breach of trust” over a plan to bring private investors into FIFA’s commercial operations.
Speaking at the AFC’s extraordinary congress in Tokyo, Sheikh Salman said he had resolved his differences with Infantino, whose reelection campaign has gained support across Asia and Africa despite continued scrutiny from European soccer’s governing body, UEFA.
“I think that we reaffirm our full commitment, of course, to supporting you and your leadership as you seek a new mandate as a FIFA president,” Sheikh Salman told Infantino, who attended the meeting.
The Bahraini official acknowledged their earlier disagreements but said recent discussions had cleared the air.
“The last few days we met in Zurich. You made it clear that there was a true, a clear understanding between us,” he said. “As one Asian family we are ready to move forward, united in your support Gianni.”
The endorsement could prove significant as Infantino seeks a fourth term in office, extending his presidency through 2031. Candidates must submit their nominations by Nov. 18, ahead of the election scheduled for March.
The reconciliation follows a dispute over the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a proposed commercial entity that would have held rights linked to major competitions, including the World Cup. Infantino’s attempt to attract private investment into the venture in July prompted criticism from several confederation leaders, including Sheikh Salman, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani, who jointly issued an open letter questioning Infantino’s conduct.
Infantino apologized over the handling of the project at a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich this month. He also withdrew the proposal, according to Japan Football Association President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, who said Infantino had made clear he would not pursue it further.
UEFA, however, continues to seek answers from FIFA about Infantino’s presidency, including the FFE controversy and the FIFA Peace Prize. Reuters contacted UEFA for comment on Sheikh Salman’s endorsement.
Infantino returns the favor
Infantino praised Sheikh Salman at the Tokyo congress, backing the AFC president’s own bid for another term.
“You’ve been doing a fantastic job in AFC in the last 13 years, my dear Salman,” Infantino said. “You will do fantastically as well for the next how many years you want. And always, always with my full support.”
Asked about the AFC’s endorsement, Infantino said he felt great about the confederation’s support.
Several influential Asian members, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have already publicly backed his reelection campaign. However, it remains unclear whether all 47 AFC member associations support him.
Miyamoto said Japan was considering aligning its position with the AFC but had not made a final decision. He also cautioned that member associations might not share a unanimous view.
“I don’t think the AFC members’ opinions are all aligned together,” Miyamoto said, adding that discussions between the AFC and FIFA had taken place over recent months.
He said Infantino’s apology and withdrawal of the FFE proposal had been factors in the discussions.
Africa has also backed Infantino, while UEFA remains a source of opposition as questions over FIFA’s leadership continue. Reuters has contacted AFC member associations to clarify their positions.
Barcelona will look to strengthen their grip on the La Liga title race Sunday when they host Real Madrid at Camp Nou, with a victory potentially opening a nine-point gap over their fiercest rivals.
Hansi Flick’s side have dominated the league in the early stages of the season, but their preparations have been complicated by a 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The loss exposed defensive weaknesses that could prove costly against a Real Madrid side beginning to find its rhythm under Jose Mourinho.
Los Blancos have won four consecutive matches, including a convincing victory over RB Leipzig on Wednesday, and appear increasingly settled under their new coach.
Yet La Blaugrana remain well positioned to deliver a significant blow to their rivals’ title ambitions.
The Catalans enter the weekend at the top of the standings with 27 points from nine matches, six ahead of third-placed Madrid, who have 21.
Atletico Madrid sit second with 22 points.
A Barça victory would give Flick’s team a commanding advantage at this stage of the campaign, while a Madrid win would narrow the gap and inject fresh uncertainty into the title race.
Barcelona also have reasons for optimism. Raphinha has returned to fitness, while teenage winger Lamine Yamal continues to provide a major attacking threat. The two have been central to a side that has scored 39 goals in nine league matches, averaging more than four per game.
However, the defeat in Paris served as a reminder that Barcelona’s attacking brilliance can be undermined by their defensive vulnerabilities.
Vinicius’ absence
The Clasico could also mark an important moment for Mourinho, whose attempts to build a cohesive team have been complicated by the challenge of accommodating Madrid’s attacking stars.
Vinicius Junior will miss Sunday’s match through suspension after receiving a red card against Villarreal.
While the Brazilian’s absence deprives Madrid of one of their most dangerous forwards, it could also give Mourinho greater freedom to adjust his tactical approach.
Spanish newspaper AS reported that Vinicius’ four-match suspension was viewed within Madrid as more of a solution than a problem, reflecting the difficulties of balancing the team when all its leading attackers are available.
Mourinho has generally sought to include his biggest names, but finding the right balance between attacking firepower and defensive stability remains a challenge.
Teenager Yan Diomande, Madrid’s record 140 million euros ($157 million) signing, could provide an alternative. His defensive contribution, combined with improving attacking form, may make him a suitable option against Barcelona.
Mourinho could also strengthen his midfield to disrupt Barcelona’s passing patterns and limit the space available to Yamal and Raphinha. However, PSG demonstrated that Barcelona can be vulnerable when opponents attack aggressively rather than simply attempting to contain them.
Despite Madrid’s improved results, Mourinho played down the significance of confidence ahead of the encounter.
“Confidence doesn’t exist” for Clasicos, he said, emphasizing the unique pressure surrounding the fixture. He also complained that Madrid would have 24 fewer hours of rest than Barcelona before Sunday’s match.
The scheduling issue could become significant if Barcelona’s recent workload begins to affect their intensity, particularly given their demanding pressing game and high defensive line.
Barcelona’s defensive concerns
Barcelona face several selection problems of their own.
Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen are sidelined, while Jules Kounde is a doubt with an ankle issue.
Midfielder Dani Olmo is also unavailable after suffering an adductor injury against PSG, with his absence expected to last around a month. Roony Bardghji is another player missing from the squad.
The injuries leave Flick with fewer options as he attempts to address the defensive problems exposed in Paris.
Barcelona conceded four goals against PSG, with Desire Doue, Lucas Hernandez, Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz finding the net for the French side.
Xavi Espart and Yamal scored for the visitors in a high-tempo contest that exposed the risks associated with Barcelona’s aggressive defensive line.
Flick acknowledged that his team’s mistakes had contributed to the defeat, particularly in possession.
“We made too many mistakes, especially in ball possession, easy ball losses,” he said. “This is what we have to analyze.”
The German coach also pointed to fatigue following a demanding run of matches, suggesting that his players’ physical condition had contributed to their loss of concentration.
“We have to understand the mistakes happen because (players) are not fresh. What they had to do the last couple of weeks is unbelievable,” Flick said.
Those concerns will be particularly relevant against Madrid, who possess the pace and finishing ability to punish defensive errors. If Barcelona continue to lose possession in dangerous areas, their attacking dominance could leave them exposed.
Raphinha and Yamal lead charge
Despite their defensive shortcomings, Barcelona’s ability to score remains their greatest strength.
The team have scored at least twice in every match this season, maintaining an attacking consistency that has helped them establish an early advantage in the league.
Raphinha leads the La Liga scoring charts with 12 goals, three more than Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe.
Yamal follows with eight, underlining Barcelona’s dependence on a forward line capable of producing goals from multiple positions.
“Our unbeaten run (domestically) is still intact, and we’ll do everything we can to keep it that way,” Raphinha told TNT Sports.
Mbappe and Yamal also have individual recognition in their sights, with both hoping to be crowned the world’s best player at Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony. But the immediate priority for both forwards will be delivering a victory that could shape the direction of the title race.
U.S. President Donald Trump criticized NBA superstar LeBron James on Thursday for what he called disrespectful behavior during the singing of the national anthem before the Philadelphia 76ers’ season opener.
“I said right from the beginning that he’s no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE,” Trump said in a social media post accompanied by a video showing James moving his body during the singing of the anthem.
“While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country,” he said, calling for the star to “apologize to all of those Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag, and all that our Country stands for!”
James appeared to practice a golf swing and jump shot as The Star-Spangled Banner was performed at Tuesday’s game in New York. James, starting his first season with Philadelphia, was lined up alongside teammates who mostly stood still during the anthem.
Trump has repeatedly criticized athletes for their behavior during pre-game renditions of the U.S. national anthem, notably beginning with NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling protest in support of racial justice.
Trump canceled a planned White House visit of the Super Bowl champions Philadelphia Eagles in 2018 after the team disagreed with his call for players to stand during the anthem.
James became a leading voice in the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 and has frequently supported progressive issues as he ascended to the top of the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
James had not made a public comment or a social media post as of Thursday afternoon about Trump’s gripe.
The two have been critical of each other for years, occasionally trading public swipes.
The 41-year-old James, in his record 24th NBA season, was set to make his home debut for the Sixers Thursday night against Cleveland.
Among some of the more notable times James became entangled with the president or politics.
James was with Cleveland in 2017 when he made a statement during an NBA game with his shoes – one black, one white, with the word “equality” in capital gold letters on the back of each.
Then, after the game, James made a statement about Trump, saying: “This is a beautiful country and we’re never going to let one person dictate how beautiful and how powerful we are.”
James had called Trump “a bum” and also said earlier that season of the president: “He doesn’t understand how many kids, no matter the race, look up to the president of the United States for guidance, for leadership, for words of encouragement. He doesn’t understand that, and that’s what makes me more sick than anything.”
James showed determination to speak out on social issues and the nation’s political climate after Fox News host Laura Ingraham criticized the four-time NBA champion for his 2018 comments about social issues.
“We will definitely not shut up and dribble,” James said. “I will definitely not do that. I mean too much to society. I mean too much to the youth. I mean too much to so many kids that feel like they don’t have a way out and they need someone to help lead them out of the situation they’re in.”
James referenced Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Bill Russell and Jackie Robinson as athletes who previously spoke up for equality and change with no concerns about the consequences or any rewards.
“We know it’s bigger than us,” James said.
At the peak of Black Lives Matter, James helped convince many who had never voted to finally head to the polls.
“I still know what I do on the floor and obviously, I give everything to the game,” James said. “But I can make a greater impact off the floor right now, more than I can on the floor. And I want to continue to inspire people with the way I play the game of basketball. But there’s so many more things that I can do off the floor to help cultivate people, inspire people, bring people together, empower them.”
AC Milan striker and former LA Galaxy star Zlatan Ibrahimovic blasted socially conscious athletes in a 2021 interview. Ibrahimovic called it “a mistake” for James and other athletes to get involved in political causes, saying they should “just do what you do best, because it doesn’t look good.”
James, naturally, rejected the criticism.
“I would never shut up about things that are wrong,” James said.
Beşiktaş fought back and played the last stretch with 10 men to draw 2-2 with Crystal Palace in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday.
The Premier League side were the better side for much of the first half, but Wilfred Ndidi gave the hosts the lead in first-half stoppage time. Yeremy Pino leveled six minutes after the restart.
Four minutes later, Jean-Philippe Mateta, on his first start since the opening day, put the visitors ahead. He had already had a first-half goal ruled out by VAR for a marginal offside in the build-up.
Beşiktaş equalized in the 73rd minute through Junior Olaitan. Four minutes later, Ümit Akdağ was sent off for a clumsy challenge on Jorgen Strand Larsen, who was forced off injured.
The English side still failed to make use of a one-man advantage.
Head coach Vincenzo Italiano made nine changes to the Süper Lig side that lost to Trabzonspor on Monday. Palace arrived after a 5-0 defeat at Brighton on Sunday.
Trabzonspor maintains perfect Conference League record
In the Conference League, Mohamed Salah marked his 150th game in European competitions by scoring again and setting up another goal as Trabzonspor beat Scottish side Hearts 2-0 at home.
It was the second goal for Salah in the competition after netting in the 4-2 win away at KuPS Kuopio in the opener.
It was Trabzonspor’s fifth straight win under head coach Thomas Reis.
Hearts started on the bright side and hit the post in the seventh minute through Malachi Fagan-Walcott’s header from a Calvin Miller corner.
Trabzonspor then took control. In the 30th minute, Franculino was fouled in the box by Tomas Magnusson, and Salah converted the penalty two minutes later, sending goalkeeper Beau Reus the wrong way.
Benjamin Bouchouari twice came close to a second before the break, volleying over and then being denied by Reus in stoppage time.
The second came in the 58th minute, when Franculino exchanged passes with Salah and fired a first-time left-footed shot into the top corner.
Trabzonspor’s Sidny Cabral was sent off in the fifth minute of stoppage time for a second yellow card.
Hearts, who had drawn 1-1 with Nordsjaelland on matchday one, were beaten 7-1 by Celtic in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.
Bournemouth beat 10-man Milan, Juventus held to draw
Elsewhere, Bournemouth earned the biggest win of their first European campaign by beating 10-man AC Milan 3-0 in the Europa League after goalkeeper Mike Maignan was sent off for shoving an opponent in the face during a corner.
Bournemouth had already taken the lead from a penalty when Maignan was shown a straight red card and conceded another spot kick by putting his gloves in the face of U.S. midfielder Tyler Adams and pushing him to the ground.
Marcus Tavernier converted the second penalty against substitute goalkeeper Lorenzo Torriani to double the lead, and there was no way back for Milan after that. Substitute Amine Adli made it 3-0 late with a perfectly executed curling free kick.
Four other teams also have three wins from three, including Bayer Leverkusen after Jonas Hofmann scored twice in a three-minute span to secure a 2-0 victory at OFI Crete.
But Juventus were held to a 2-2 draw by Rennes after having a late winner ruled out for offside.
Hofmann netted his double late in the first half as Leverkusen continued their good start under new coach Carles Martínez, who has now overseen seven wins from eight games across all competitions since starting with a shock loss to Elversberg.
Ferencvaros also stayed perfect after a 4-1 victory over Portuguese second-division side Torreense.
In a clash of two unbeaten teams, Benfica won 4-1 at Omonia while Olympiacos needed a late own goal to secure their third straight win, 1-0 win over Sparta Prague.
Nick Woltemade converted from the spot in the 67th minute to salvage a 2-2 home draw for Juventus against Rennes, but the hosts had a potential winner by Jhon Lucumi ruled out by VAR.
It was Woltemade’s third goal in three games in the competition after joining on loan from Newcastle.
The Bianconeri pressured early and took the lead on a quick attack after Zeki Çelik collected a through pass from Woltemade. But Musa Al-Taamari equalized and Boulaye Dia calmly gave the visitors the lead from the spot, sending Juve goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario the wrong way.
Like Juve, Sunderland hoped to make it three wins from three on a trip to Lech Poznan. Forward Timur Tutierov put the Premier League side ahead with a header with his first Europa League goal in the second minute, but substitute Leo Bengtsson made it 1-1 in the second half to earn a first point for the Polish club.
In other results, Celtic lost 2-1 at home to Celta Vigo, Hoffenheim got their first points with a 3-0 win over Ligue 1 leader Lyon and Real Sociedad had the biggest win of the night, 6-0 at Lillestrom.
Earlier, Marseille recorded a third straight loss, 1-0 to Sturm Graz, while Union Saint-Gilloise routed Israel’s Hapoel Beer-Sheva 4-0. That game was played without fans in Düsseldorf, Germany, after authorities in Leuven, Belgium, refused to host it due to public safety.
In the Conference League, Czech provincial side Jablonec kept high-scoring Brighton at bay in a 0-0 draw, as last season’s Europa League runners-up Freiburg failed to build on their win in the opener and were beaten 3-0 at Monaco, while Ajax snuck a 2-0 win over Atalanta.
Turkish rider Deniz Öncü will target a podium finish at the Australian Grand Prix this weekend as he looks to improve his results in the 2026 Moto2 World Championship.
The 23-year-old will compete for ELF Marc VDS Racing Team at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in the 18th round of the season, according to the Turkish Motorcycle Federation (TMF).
Öncü will begin his weekend with free practice on Friday before Saturday’s qualifying session determines the starting grid for Sunday’s 23-lap race. The main event is scheduled to start at 4:15 a.m. Türkiye time.
The 4.448-kilometer (2.764-mile) circuit, renowned for its fast corners and coastal setting, will host the Australian Grand Prix for the final time before the event moves to a new street circuit in Adelaide in 2027.
Öncü has fond memories of Phillip Island, having won the Moto3 race there in 2023. He claimed three victories in the lightweight category before moving up to Moto2, where he is now seeking to regain the form that made him a race winner last season.
The Turkish rider secured two victories in 2025, at the Aragon and German Grands Prix and finished the championship in 12th place with 100 points. However, his first full season with ELF Marc VDS has proved more difficult as he adjusts to a new team and motorcycle.
After 17 rounds, Öncü sits 15th in the standings with 47.5 points. He finished 22nd at the Indonesian Grand Prix after starting 25th on the grid, leaving him eager to deliver a stronger performance in Australia.
Manuel González leads the championship with 265.5 points, followed by Izan Guevara on 260. Iván Ortolá is third with 191.5 points, while Daniel Holgado, David Alonso and Australian rider Senna Agius complete the top six.
Phillip Island’s flowing layout, unpredictable winds and high-speed corners can create a demanding test for riders, with qualifying position likely to be important in the fight for a competitive result.
Öncü will be Türkiye’s sole representative in the MotoGP paddock this weekend following Toprak Razgatlıoğlu’s season-ending injury in Indonesia.
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