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Osimhen, Leao return to Lille as Galatasaray seek European lifeline

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Galatasaray travel to France on Wednesday to seek their first points in the UEFA Champions League league phase as they face Lille at the Decathlon Arena, Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

The Turkish champions, who have lost their opening two matches, meet a Lille side in a similar position after defeats to Real Betis and Arsenal left the French club without a point. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. Türkiye time.

Galatasaray suffered a 3-1 defeat away to Sporting in their opening fixture before losing 4-1 at home to Barcelona.

Galatasaray players celebrate a goal that was later disallowed during the UEFA Champions League against Barcelona at Rams Park, Istanbul, Türkiye, Oct. 13, 2026. (Reuters Photo)

Galatasaray players celebrate a goal that was later disallowed during the UEFA Champions League against Barcelona at Rams Park, Istanbul, Türkiye, Oct. 13, 2026. (Reuters Photo)

Lille began their European campaign with a 3-2 home defeat to Real Betis and followed it with a 3-0 loss away to Arsenal.

Both sides will be eager to get their campaigns back on track, although their domestic performances suggest contrasting levels of confidence.

Galatasaray head into the match after a 1-0 Süper Lig victory over Gençlerbirliği, with Deniz Gül scoring in the 88th minute to keep Okan Buruk’s side top of the standings with 19 points.

Lille, meanwhile, drew 1-1 at home against Brest in their most recent Ligue 1 match. They have collected four wins, two draws and one defeat in seven league matches, leaving them fourth with 14 points.

Despite their encouraging domestic form, Lille have struggled in Europe. The French side have conceded in each of their last 10 Champions League matches and have lost their last three games in the competition.

A difficult French test

History offers little encouragement for Galatasaray ahead of their trip to northern France.

The Istanbul club have won only once in their last 11 away matches against French opposition and are winless in their last six visits, recording two draws and four defeats.

Their most recent away defeat in France came against Monaco last season, when they lost 1-0. Galatasaray last won on French soil on Sept. 26, 2001, beating Nantes 1-0.

Across 22 previous meetings with French clubs, Galatasaray have recorded seven wins, 10 defeats and five draws, scoring 23 goals and conceding 37.

The visitors have also lost their last five Champions League away matches, including defeats to Monaco, Manchester City, Liverpool, Juventus and Sporting. They will be looking to end that run and avoid opening a Champions League campaign with three consecutive defeats for the first time since the 1997-98 season.

Wednesday’s match will be the first competitive meeting between Galatasaray and Lille.

Lille have previously faced Turkish opposition in European competition, playing Fenerbahçe and Trabzonspor six times. They remain unbeaten in those encounters, with two wins and four draws. Their most recent meeting with a Turkish club ended in a 1-1 draw against Fenerbahçe on Aug. 13, 2024.

Osimhen and Leao face former club

Victor Osimhen will be one of Galatasaray’s key figures as he faces Lille, where he played during the 2019-20 season.

The Nigerian striker scored 18 goals in 38 appearances for the French club before moving on, and Wednesday’s fixture will give him his first opportunity to face his former side in a competitive match.

Osimhen’s return comes at a crucial time for Galatasaray, who need a positive European result after their difficult start to the league phase.

Portuguese forward Rafael Leão also previously played for Lille, featuring for the club during the 2018-19 season. However, he will miss Wednesday’s match after sustaining a groin injury in Galatasaray’s 1-0 victory over Gençlerbirliği.

Medical examinations revealed a mild-to-moderate strain in his groin muscle, ruling him out of the trip to France. His absence will deprive him of the chance to face his former club, where he scored eight goals in 26 appearances.

Ivory Coast international Wilfried Singo is another fitness concern for Buruk. The defender has returned to training with the team, but his availability will be determined closer to kickoff.

Kaan Ayhan, Arda Ünyay and Can Armando Güner are also unavailable because they were not included in Galatasaray’s registered Champions League squad.

Lille’s concerns

Lille will also be without several players as they attempt to secure their first points of the campaign.

Ethan Mbappé is suspended after receiving a straight red card for elbowing an opponent during the defeat to Real Betis. The disciplinary ruling resulted in a three-match ban.

Defender Tiago Santos will miss the game as he continues his recovery from a cruciate ligament injury.

Goalkeeper Berke Özer and Japanese forward Ayase Ueda are doubts after picking up injuries. Özer, who has made eight appearances this season across Ligue 1 and the Champions League, was absent from Lille’s latest league match against Brest.

The goalkeeper has kept four clean sheets and conceded 10 goals in those appearances. His availability could prove significant against a Galatasaray attack looking to rediscover its European scoring form.

If Özer is unavailable, Orlando Gill could have an opportunity to make his Champions League debut.

Lille’s defensive record will be another concern for coach Davide Ancelotti. The French side have conceded in each of their last 10 Champions League matches, a run that stretches back to their 1-0 victory over Real Madrid on Oct. 2, 2024.

During that period, Lille have recorded four wins, four defeats and two draws, but their inability to keep opponents off the scoresheet has continued to undermine their European performances.

Buruk’s European milestone

Wednesday’s match will be Okan Buruk’s 41st European fixture as Galatasaray coach.

The Turkish manager has overseen 40 matches in European competition, including Champions League qualifying rounds and league-phase fixtures, as well as Europa League games. His record stands at 15 wins, 16 defeats and nine draws.

Galatasaray will also make their 343rd appearance in European competition. They have won 121 of their previous 342 matches, lost 131 and drawn 90, scoring 470 goals and conceding 525.

Under the Champions League name, the club have played 136 matches, winning 34, losing 70 and drawing 32. They have scored 141 goals and conceded 237.

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Türkiye builds momentum for 2-pronged LA28 Olympic cycling push

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Türkiye aims to qualify cyclists for both road and track events at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with preparations gathering pace following a season of international competitions and medal-winning performances, Turkish Cycling Federation President Emin Müftüoğlu said.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Müftüoğlu said Türkiye had made progress in developing the sport, hosting major events and strengthening its international competitiveness.

The season began with the 2026 UEC Elite European Track Cycling Championships, held in February at the Konya Olympic Velodrome, marking the first time Türkiye had hosted the competition.

Müftüoğlu described the event as a milestone for Turkish cycling, highlighting the opportunities created by the country’s first velodrome.

Türkiye also hosted major events in Antalya, Alanya and the wider Mediterranean region to promote cycling tourism, while the Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye remained a key fixture on the international calendar.

Müftüoğlu said Turkish cyclists had also secured important international medals across several age categories, including the masters division, building on achievements among junior and under-23 athletes.

Olympic qualification a priority

The federation is now focused on securing Olympic places, with the qualification process for Los Angeles 2028 underway.

Müftüoğlu said Ramazan Yılmaz would represent Türkiye at the World Championships in China, an important step toward qualifying for the Games.

“We have completed the qualification requirements and will compete at the World Championships in China this week with Ramazan Yılmaz, at an event we have not been able to attend for a long time,” he said.

“The Olympic goal and the race for Olympic quotas begin with this World Championships. Competing in these championships is necessary to earn an Olympic quota, and we have completed the first stage.”

Türkiye hopes to return to Olympic track cycling after a lengthy absence, with Müftüoğlu saying preparations were proceeding according to plan.

“We want to achieve another important success by qualifying for the Olympics, hopefully becoming the first athlete and federation to do so after the qualification process following 1976,” he said.

Road cycling is also part of the strategy, with 2027 expected to be a crucial year for qualification.

“We are making a major effort to qualify for the Olympics in road cycling as well,” Müftüoğlu said, adding that the federation was excited by the prospect of competing in the velodrome at the Los Angeles Games for the first time.

Konya velodrome boosts ambitions

The Konya Olympic Velodrome has expanded training and competition opportunities for Turkish cyclists. Before its construction, athletes had to travel abroad for training camps and events because Türkiye lacked a velodrome.

Müftüoğlu thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for supporting the facility and Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak for overseeing the federation’s work. He also highlighted Yılmaz’s historic medal at the European championships as a sign of progress.

The federation plans to build on these results by developing younger athletes and expanding its professional cycling structure. Müftüoğlu said four continental professional teams currently operate in Türkiye, adding that the federation wants to increase that number.

He also credited Konya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Uğur İbrahim Altay with supporting cycling, noting that Yılmaz represents the municipality.

Presidential tour to finish in Ankara

The federation is also preparing the route for the 2027 Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye, which will finish in Ankara, Müftüoğlu confirmed.

“We have made considerable progress on the route, and we expect to announce it after completing the remaining details, probably within this month. But the finish will be in Ankara,” he said.

The race serves as a platform to promote Türkiye internationally and support the growth of cycling tourism. Müftüoğlu said the federation also wanted to make cycling more accessible to people of different ages and abilities through amateur events such as Gran Fondo races.

He identified Alanya, Antalya, Muğla and İzmir as important destinations for cycling tourism, pointing to infrastructure investment and opportunities to attract international visitors.

The federation is also working to develop cycling tourism through EuroVelo, the European network of long-distance cycling routes.

Müftüoğlu said Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy was supporting efforts to increase Türkiye’s share of the international cycling tourism market, alongside broader initiatives to expand sports tourism.

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Salah leads charge as Trabzonspor star tops Süper Lig goal charts

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Mohamed Salah scored again as Trabzonspor beat Beşiktaş 2-0 in the Süper Lig, taking his tally to eight goals in the opening eight rounds and leaving him alone at the top of the league’s scoring charts.

The Egyptian forward has accounted for eight of Trabzonspor’s 18 goals in the league this season, establishing himself as the driving force behind the Black Sea club’s attack.

Salah has also scored in European competition, finding the net in Trabzonspor’s 4-2 victory over KuPS Kuopio in the UEFA Conference League.

Salah’s goal against Beşiktaş allowed him to finish the eighth round as the Süper Lig’s leading scorer, one goal ahead of three players tied for second place.

Başakşehir’s Eldor Shomurodov, Amed Sportif Faaliyetler’s Gift Orban and Fenerbahçe’s Vedat Muriqi have each scored seven goals.

Salah’s consistent scoring has helped Trabzonspor maintain a potent attack, with the Egyptian contributing nearly half of the team’s league goals through the first eight rounds.

Happy hunting ground

Seven of Salah’s eight league goals have come at home, where he has scored in all four of his appearances at Papara Park.

He opened his home scoring account with a hat trick against Galatasaray, added two goals against Başakşehir and scored once each against Gençlerbirliği and Beşiktaş.

His only league goal away from home came against Amed Sportif Faaliyetler, despite Trabzonspor losing that match 2-1.

Salah also scored on the road against KuPS Kuopio in the Conference League, extending his scoring contributions beyond domestic competition.

A prolific start

Salah made his Trabzonspor debut in the opening round against Kasımpaşa, coming off the bench in the 58th minute. He earned a starting place for the following match against Başakşehir and responded with two goals in a 2-1 victory.

He continued his scoring run against Amed Sportif Faaliyetler, although Trabzonspor suffered a 2-1 defeat, before converting a penalty in the team’s emphatic 5-0 win over Gençlerbirliği in the fourth round.

The Egyptian had scored four goals in the first five rounds before producing his standout performance against Galatasaray, when his hat trick took him to seven league goals.

His strike against Beşiktaş then brought him to eight, giving him sole possession of the scoring lead after eight rounds.

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Barca revival faces ultimate test in Champions League trip to PSG

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Before Sunday’s El Clasico against rival Real Madrid, Barcelona face an eagerly anticipated trip to Paris Saint-Germain Tuesday in the highlight match of the Champions League’s third round.

It’s a meeting of the current top two in the nascent league-phase standings and, for many, an early preview of what could easily be the lineup in the final, which is being staged in Madrid next June.

That would underline the definitive revival of Barcelona, which hasn’t been in the Champions League final since 2015 – when Luis Enrique, the current PSG coach, was at the helm and Messi was wreaking havoc in that prolific front line alongside Neymar and Luis Suarez.

More than a decade later, the names aren’t quite as stellar – not yet, anyway – but Lamine Yamal and Raphinha are fueling goal-fests every few days.

Barcelona have played 11 matches in all competitions this season, winning them all, and have scored 48 goals already. That’s more than 4.3 goals a game.

Can that continue against PSG, the defending two-time champion and the team that have set the standard in European football for the past two seasons?

PSG have found their groove in recent weeks, too, winning six games in a row including two straight in the Champions League – 6-1 at home to Slovan Bratislava and 4-2 at Manchester City last week. That makes them the top scorer in the competition, with one more goal than Barcelona after their 5-1 win over Feyenoord and 4-1 victory at Galatasaray.

A year ago, PSG came to Barcelona in the league phase without injured star forwards Ousmane Dembele, Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and rallied to win 2-1, with Goncalo Ramos scoring a 90th-minute winner.

Revenge would be sweet for Barcelona in the ultimate test of their rejuvenation.

If PSG and Barcelona are currently the best two teams in Europe, Bayern Munich and Arsenal aren’t far behind.

They meet in Munich in another stellar matchup that pits another of Europe’s most devastating attacking units against the most well-organized defense on the continent.

Bayern, which have four points from a possible six in the Champions League so far, are coming off a 6-1 win over Leipzig in the Bundesliga that makes it 36 goals in 10 games this season.

Arsenal have yet to concede a goal after back-to-back wins in Europe and are tied for the best defensive record in the Premier League with five goals conceded in seven games.

Questions are being asked, though, about Arsenal’s attacking strength under Mikel Arteta, who said after last season’s penalty-shootout loss to PSG in the final that his team needed to show more ambition to “reach another level.”

At the moment, it looks like Arteta is back to relying on his mean defense to get results. On Wednesday, it will have to stop Harry Kane, the former Tottenham striker who has scored a competition-high 17 goals in the Champions League since the start of last season.

Don’t be surprised if Aston Villa tops the Champions League standings come the end of the third round of games.

The English club are one of nine teams on a maximum six points and are in third place, with the same +7 goal difference as PSG and Barcelona.

Villa have a kinder fixture, though, at home to Norwegian team Viking.

It’s a testament to the managerial skills of Unai Emery that Villa are riding high once again, having already won 3-2 at Club Brugge and thrashed Fenerbahçe 6-0.

Emery lost the spine of his team over the summer with the departures of Emi Martinez, Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins but has fashioned a new lineup, spearheaded by Nicolas Jackson and exciting Swiss midfielder Johan Manzambi.

Emery’s widely held status as, pound for pound, one of the best coaches in Europe is fully justified.

Manchester City might have to press pause on Erling Haaland’s stunning Champions League scoring exploits.

The striker, who has 61 goals in just 60 games in the competition, hobbled off the field after the 3-2 win over Ipswich in the Premier League on Saturday. That was his third straight game after a period of international duty with Norway that ended with Haaland asking to be substituted with fatigue.

A home match against AEK Athens seems the ideal opportunity for City manager Enzo Maresca to give his star player a rest.

Italy’s problems at international level – shockingly, the men’s team haven’t qualified for three straight World Cups – are well-known.

It’s not going great at club level, either.

Only one Italian team reached the Champions League round of 16 last season – and Atalanta got thumped 10-2 on aggregate by Bayern there – and the nation’s four representatives (Inter Milan, Napoli, Como and Roma) this season have lost six of their combined eight games so far. There’s been only one win, by Como.

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Fenerbahçe seek Champions League reset against Slavia Prague

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Seeking to rebuild momentum following a painful European setback, Fenerbahçe host Czech champions Slavia Prague in Istanbul Tuesday evening in the third matchday of the UEFA Champions League league phase.

Both sides enter the clash searching for their first victory of the 2026-27 European campaign. Fenerbahçe hold one point from their opening two fixtures, having drawn 1-1 at home against Roma before suffering a heavy 6-0 defeat away to Aston Villa.

Slavia Prague remain without a point after dropping a 3-2 home decision to Lens and falling 2-0 on the road against Sabah.

The Turkish hosts are aiming to move past their setback at Villa Park, where Johan Manzambi opened the scoring before Nicolas Jackson and Ross Barkley each scored twice, with Tammy Abraham completing the victory.

Despite their European stumble, Fenerbahçe arrive in strong domestic form. Ismail Kartal’s squad is unbeaten in its last four Turkish Süper Lig matches, scoring 14 goals while keeping four consecutive clean sheets. The run includes 3-0 victories over Rizespor and Alanyaspor, an 8-0 win against Eyüpspor, and a goalless draw with Gaziantep.

“The Aston Villa match was a bad match for us,” Kartal said during Monday’s prematch press conference. “It is not a score line that the Fenerbahçe community, myself, or anyone can accept. We had missing players in that match; we identified those issues and reacted within two days.”

Slavia Prague present a familiar physical challenge for the Istanbul club. The Czech side won both legs of their 2021-22 UEFA Europa Conference League tie against the Yellow Canaries by matching 3-2 scores, though Fenerbahçe earned a 2-1 away victory over Slavia in the 2024-25 UEFA Europa League.

“They play physical football,” Kartal noted regarding Slavia Prague’s tactical approach under longtime manager Jindrich Trpisovsky.

“They are an opponent that plays man-to-man. No matter how they play, we will deploy our most dynamic players. We have three different tactical setups against this opponent, and we plan to implement them to approach tomorrow’s match in the best possible way. We are playing at home and trust our fans completely,” he added.

Kartal also highlighted the team’s manageability ahead of an upcoming league derby against Galatasaray, noting that tactical adjustments and rotations remain under evaluation.

“We look at it match by match,” Kartal said. “We will evaluate the condition of certain players. A player’s own psychological state is important. If there is fatigue, we respect each other. Whoever is in our Plan B, we prepare those players.”

The Fenerbahçe manager addressed individual squad conditions, specifically discussing Mason Greenwood, N’Golo Kante and Marco Asensio.

“Greenwood is a productive and high-quality player,” Kartal said. “He may have some defensive shortcomings, but he is doing his best to fix them. Our expectation from him is to demonstrate his attacking quality. He may play a different role tomorrow.”

Addressing physical concerns within the squad, Kartal added: “Before the Aston Villa match, both Asensio and Kante had knee pain. During the Aston Villa match, I asked Kante at half time if he could play, and he said, ‘If I play in this match, I might not be able to play for a longer period.’ He was still holding his knee during the Alanyaspor match. He still has pain. He is making sacrifices for the team and showing character.”

Fenerbahçe defender Nathan Ake, appearing alongside Kartal at the press conference, emphasized the physical demand required for Tuesday’s match.

“It will be a high-intensity match,” Ake said. “They are a team that plays man-to-man and plays attack-minded football. But we know what we need to do. There will be a great atmosphere in the stadium tomorrow. The fans helped us a lot in the first match. The Roma match was tough, and they helped us in difficult moments. I hope the same happens tomorrow and they help us get three points.”

Ake also discussed his chemistry in defense alongside goalkeeper Ederson and team captain Milan Skriniar.

“We get along better every day with Ederson and our team captain Milan Skriniar,” Ake said. “We spend time together off the pitch as well, which helps. I hope it continues. It has been an intense period so far with a lot of matches, but I like it. We do not get many training opportunities, but playing matches is what we want most, and I think everyone will be ready.”

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Inter soar to Serie A summit with comeback win over Bologna

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Inter Milan rallied from behind to defeat Bologna 3-1 Saturday, extending its lead at the top of Serie A, while Roma climbed to second with a win over Genoa and Napoli suffered a shock defeat against Venezia.

The champions moved up to 19 points, although Lazio can go level with the leaders if they beat Juventus in Turin Sunday.

A 2-0 win for Roma at the Stadio Olimpico moved them two points off top in second, while Napoli’s loss left them a distant ninth, nine points off the title pace.

Inter came in for criticism after a disappointing midweek Champions League defeat against Club Brugge but bounced back with a comeback win ahead of the visit of Shakhtar Donetsk Wednesday.

“Our strength is the group and the quality of the players,” Inter assistant coach Aleksandar Kolarov told DAZN.

“We don’t have anything to prove to anyone except ourselves. We want to be more intense with and without the ball,” he added.

Bologna started brightly as Tommaso Pobega fired them in front after 10 minutes before hitting the bar with a powerful shot.

But Inter, shorn of injured captain Lautaro Martinez after he was ruled out for a month, responded through a towering Marcus Thuram header.

Chivu’s substitutions proved decisive as Carlos Augusto scored within a minute of coming on midway through the second half, before turning provider for fellow replacement Ange-Yoan Bonny late on.

Castro scores stunner

Just three days after throwing away a 3-1 lead to lose 4-3 in the dying minutes of a Champions League clash with Real Madrid, Roma responded strongly with a 2-0 win over Genoa.

With top scorer Donyell Malen suspended and several key players injured, Roma’s young guns seized their chance as Santiago Castro and Emanuele Lulli scored their first goals for the club.

Both sides were denied by the woodwork in the first half, but an audacious flicked finish in a crowded box from Castro broke the deadlock after 50 minutes, before teenage wing-back Lulli made sure of the points with a close-range effort.

Genoa coach Daniele De Rossi, a celebrated former Roma player and coach, received a warm ovation from the home support but was unable to prevent counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini from claiming the 300th Serie A win of his managerial career.

Nicola’s dream debut

Venezia coach Davide Nicola masterminded a shock 1-0 win over struggling Napoli on debut as Kevin De Bruyne had a penalty saved.

Renowned survival specialist Nicola was appointed during the week to replace sacked coach Giovanni Stroppa after last season’s Serie B champions failed to pick up a single point in their opening six games.

He made an instant impact as Akor Adams struck the winner early in the second half to seal Venezia’s first Serie A win over Napoli since 1942.

Rested Napoli stars Rasmus Hojlund and De Bruyne came on as coach Massimiliano Allegri searched for an equalizer and Hojlund soon won a penalty, but the Belgian midfielder’s spot-kick was saved by Filip Stankovic.

The Venezia goalkeeper proved decisive in the closing stages with a string of impressive saves as Napoli pushed forward in vain.

It marked a second defeat in a row for Allegri’s side after their midweek Champions League loss at Villarreal, and the first time in 25 years that Napoli have lost five of their first nine games in all competitions.

Next up for Napoli is the visit of Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League Tuesday.

“In football you get moments like this and there is only one way out: keep working seriously and professionally, be more focused and turn this disappointment into anger,” Allegri told a press conference.

“It’s up to us to turn this situation around, starting with the Champions League.”

Napoli are ninth on 10 points, while Venezia remain bottom with three points.

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Beşiktaş visit Trabzon with eyes on history, Süper Lig win streak

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Seeking their 200th all-time goal against their archrivals, Beşiktaş travel hit the road Monday for a high-stakes Süper Lig tie against Trabzonspor.

Beşiktaş enter the clash riding a wave of momentum following the international break. Under manager Vincenzo Italiano, the Black Eagles have put together a solid start to the domestic campaign, compiling 15 points from 7 matches on the back of 5 wins and 2 losses.

Following the break, Beşiktaş edged Kocaelispor 2-1 in league play before mounting a thrilling 3-2 victory over German side Hoffenheim in the UEFA Europa League.

The Istanbul side now faces a grueling stretch, with fixtures against Trabzonspor, Crystal Palace, and Istanbul Başakşehir packed into an eight-day window.

Meanwhile, Trabzonspor have enjoyed a steady campaign of their own. The Black Sea Storm have collected 13 points through seven matches, recording four wins, one draw and two losses.

Vlahovic’s Return

Beşiktaş will be forced to navigate the hostile environment in Trabzon without two key contributors. Captain Orkun Kökçü, who sustained an injury during the win over Hoffenheim, and Milot Rashica, who remains sidelined for treatment, will both miss the fixture.

However, the visitors received a major boost with the return of star striker Dusan Vlahovic. The Serbian forward missed the European fixture against Hoffenheim due to a stomach ailment but returned to full training.

If selected by Italiano, Vlahovic is expected to feature as he looks to add to his impressive tally of 6 goals in 8 matches across all competitions this season.

Historical Rivalry

Monday’s showdown marks the 144th meeting between the two clubs across a fierce 53-year rivalry that dates back to their first clash on Oct. 11, 1973 – a 2-0 victory for Trabzonspor.

Historically, Beşiktaş hold the upper hand with 57 victories to Trabzonspor’s 49, while 37 matches have ended in stalemates. In those 143 previous encounters, Beşiktaş have found the net 199 times, leaving them just one goal shy of the coveted 200-goal milestone against their fierce rivals. Trabzonspor have scored 165 goals in the fixture.

Trabzonspor players train ahead of their Süper Lig match against Beşiktaş, Trabzon, Türkiye, Oct. 18, 2026. (AA Photo)

Trabzonspor players train ahead of their Süper Lig match against Beşiktaş, Trabzon, Türkiye, Oct. 18, 2026. (AA Photo)

In Süper Lig history alone, the two sides are meeting for the 107th time. Beşiktaş lead the league head-to-head record with 39 wins to Trabzonspor’s 38, alongside 29 draws. Beşiktaş have outscored the Black Sea Storms 151 to 125 in league play, giving the hosts extra motivation to level the all-time Süper Lig win count on home turf.

Home advantage for Trabzon

History suggests Trabzonspor will draw confidence from playing in front of their home supporters. In 52 previous matches hosted in Trabzon, the hosts have claimed 24 victories, compared to 15 wins for Beşiktaş, with 13 matches resulting in draws. Last season’s corresponding fixture in Trabzon ended in a dramatic 3-3 draw.

With both sides in strong form and historical milestones hanging in the balance, Papara Park is primed for a classic Turkish football battle.

The kickoff is set for 8 p.m. local time, with referee Cihan Aydın officiating the encounter.

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