Sports
Fenerbahçe make up for lost time with landmark Liverpool victory
For a generation of Fenerbahçe supporters, a memorable UEFA Champions League victory was something they knew through old footage, stories and memories shared by older fans. On Wednesday, they finally had one of their own.
A dramatic 3-2 victory over Liverpool in Istanbul ended an 18-year wait for a win in the competition and offered a powerful reminder of Fenerbahçe’s ambitions to re-establish themselves among Europe’s established clubs.
The significance of the result went far beyond three points. For years, Fenerbahçe have struggled to translate their domestic stature and passionate support into consistent success on the European stage.
Their Champions League campaigns have rarely produced the kind of defining performances expected of a club with such a rich history and following.
Their previous victory in the competition came on April 2, 2008, when they beat Chelsea 2-1 in the quarterfinals.
That result formed part of one of the most memorable European campaigns in the club’s modern history, as Fenerbahçe reached the last eight for the first time before eventually being eliminated by the English side.
Almost two decades later, Liverpool provided the opposition for another potentially defining night. Beating one of Europe’s most decorated clubs gave the achievement added weight, particularly after Fenerbahçe had gone 10 consecutive Champions League matches without a victory, their longest winless run in the competition.
Their return to the Champions League league phase this season, their first appearance in the competition proper since 2008-09, had already represented an important milestone. However, defeating Liverpool transformed that return into something considerably more meaningful.
For younger supporters, the victory carried a special emotional significance. Many were either children or not yet born when Fenerbahçe last celebrated a Champions League win.
Their understanding of the club’s European achievements had largely been shaped by stories of the 2007-08 team, which featured influential figures such as Alex de Souza, Deivid and Volkan Demirel.
That side established a benchmark for subsequent generations, with its European exploits remaining a reference point whenever Fenerbahçe’s continental ambitions were discussed. Wednesday’s victory gave younger supporters an opportunity to create their own memories, rather than simply looking back at the achievements of those who came before them.
The timing also made the result particularly important. Fenerbahçe had endured an inconsistent domestic campaign, while a heavy 6-0 European defeat to Aston Villa had raised questions about their ability to compete with the continent’s strongest teams.
Liverpool presented another formidable examination. The English club arrived in Istanbul having won all three of its previous league-phase matches and enjoying an impressive start to its European campaign. Yet Fenerbahçe recovered from falling behind twice to secure a victory that demonstrated the resilience and determination their supporters had been demanding.
The result could also prove valuable in the race for qualification. Fenerbahçe moved to five points from four matches in the expanded league phase, strengthening their position ahead of the remaining fixtures. More importantly, they now have a performance against elite opposition to draw confidence from as they pursue their European objectives.
Beating Liverpool does not automatically resolve the team’s inconsistencies, but it offers tangible evidence of what the squad can achieve when it performs with conviction. Such a result could provide an important psychological lift, particularly after the disappointment of previous European outings.
An intriguing personal storyline also followed the victory, with Dirk Kuyt on the winning side against a club that played a significant role in his career.
The former Netherlands international spent six years at Liverpool between 2006 and 2012, making more than 200 appearances for the Anfield club. He was overseeing Fenerbahçe on an interim basis against his former employers, turning the occasion into an unusual full-circle moment.
It was only his second match in charge and his final appearance in the role before Emre Belözoğlu formally took over.
Kuyt described the victory as a “miracle,” highlighting the 18-year wait and the personal significance of the number 18, which he wore during his Liverpool career.
“We showed Europe how big Fenerbahçe is,” he said. “This is what the spirit of this side is.”
His involvement added another dimension to an already memorable occasion. A former Liverpool player had helped Fenerbahçe overcome the club where he spent some of the most significant years of his playing career.
The setting also carried its own historical significance. Istanbul remains closely associated with Liverpool’s extraordinary comeback against AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final. Trailing 3-0 at halftime, Liverpool scored three times after the break before winning on penalties in a match that became known as the Miracle of Istanbul.
More than two decades later, Liverpool returned to the same city for another memorable European contest, but this time it was the home supporters celebrating a famous result.
For Fenerbahçe, however, the real test begins after the celebrations. One victory cannot erase years of inconsistent European performances or immediately restore the club to the level of the continent’s leading sides. Their defensive vulnerabilities also remain a concern, having conceded in all six Champions League matches played since the playoff stage this season.
Nevertheless, the Liverpool result has provided something Fenerbahçe have lacked for years: convincing evidence that they can overcome elite European opposition.
The club have never been short of ambition, domestic support or expectations. What they have struggled to establish is the consistency required to turn those ambitions into sustained European success.
Wednesday’s victory will not solve that problem overnight, but it offers an important foundation. It has given the current squad a result to build on and a younger generation of supporters a European memory of their own.
Romanian gymnast Ana Maria Barbosu has received a two-year suspension for three whereabouts failures under anti-doping rules, a decision that could sideline the 2024 Olympic bronze medalist until just two months before the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport’s Anti-Doping Division (CAS ADD) announced the ruling Wednesday, confirming that the 20-year-old committed three violations between September and December 2025 by failing to meet requirements for providing her whereabouts information.
The suspension took effect May 5, 2026, the date her provisional suspension began, meaning Barbosu will be eligible to return to competition in May 2028, provided the decision is not overturned on appeal.
Barbosu challenged the proposed sanction and requested a hearing before CAS ADD. However, a single judge ruled that all three whereabouts failures had been correctly recorded, upholding the anti-doping rule violation.
The case does not involve a positive test for prohibited substances. Instead, it centers on requirements designed to ensure that athletes remain available for unannounced out-of-competition drug testing.
Athletes included in registered testing pools must regularly submit accurate information about their locations, including a designated 60-minute period each day during which they must be available for testing.
Under anti-doping regulations, any combination of three missed tests and/or failures to provide accurate whereabouts information within a rolling 12-month period constitutes an anti-doping rule violation. The standard penalty is a two-year suspension, although the sanction can vary depending on the athlete’s degree of fault.
World Gymnastics, which administers its anti-doping programme through the International Testing Agency (ITA), initiated disciplinary proceedings after the three failures were recorded.
In its statement Wednesday, CAS ADD said it had partially upheld World Gymnastics’ request for disciplinary proceedings against Barbosu.
While confirming the two-year suspension, the tribunal ruled that her competitive results obtained since December 2025 would not be disqualified. The decision allows her results during that period to stand, including those from her collegiate gymnastics career in the United States.
The ITA acknowledged the ruling.
Barbosu has competed for Stanford University, where she enjoyed a successful freshman season in 2026. She earned All-American honors on balance beam and in the all-around, collected Atlantic Coast Conference titles and finished as a co-runner-up on beam at the NCAA Championships.
Following the announcement of her provisional suspension, Barbosu maintained that the case did not involve prohibited substances and pointed to the challenges of adjusting to college life in the United States.
Her suspension leaves her with a narrow window to regain competitive form before the Los Angeles Olympics. Assuming the ruling stands, she could return to international competition in May 2028, shortly before the Games begin.
Meanwhile, the disciplinary case is separate from the ongoing legal dispute over the floor exercise bronze medal she won at the 2024 Paris Olympics, which remains unresolved.
Paris Olympic bronze dispute remains unresolved
Barbosu’s Olympic medal has been at the center of a prolonged dispute involving American gymnast Jordan Chiles.
During the floor exercise final in Paris, Barbosu initially received a score of 13.700, placing her third and putting her in position to claim bronze. Chiles, who competed last, was initially awarded 13.666 and finished fifth.
However, an inquiry submitted by Chiles’ coach resulted in a 0.1 increase to her difficulty score, lifting her total to 13.766 and moving her into third place. Barbosu dropped to fourth, while fellow Romanian Sabrina Maneca-Voinea finished fifth.
Romania subsequently challenged the result at CAS, arguing that Chiles’ inquiry had been submitted after the one-minute deadline.
CAS ruled in Romania’s favor, finding that the inquiry had been filed outside the permitted time. The original scores were reinstated, restoring Barbosu to third place, and the International Olympic Committee subsequently reallocated the bronze medal to the Romanian gymnast.
The dispute took another turn in February 2026 when Switzerland’s Federal Supreme Court referred the case back to CAS for reconsideration following the submission of new evidence.
CAS said Wednesday that the parties involved in the separate proceedings had requested that no hearing take place before May 2027 as written submissions continue.
The case involves Barbosu, the Romanian Gymnastics Federation, Chiles, USA Gymnastics, World Gymnastics and gymnastics official Donatella Sacchi.
Although both proceedings involve Barbosu, the whereabouts suspension has no bearing on the ownership of the Paris Olympic medal.
Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football, ending a record-breaking 23-year career with Portugal in which he became the country’s most-capped player and leading scorer.
The 41-year-old Al-Nassr forward confirmed his decision in an emotional video message posted on social media Thursday, saying he would hand back Portugal’s iconic No. 7 shirt after the November international break.
Ronaldo retires with 234 appearances and 146 goals, both world records in men’s international football. His journey began on Aug. 20, 2003, against Kazakhstan, marking the start of a career that would make him the face of Portuguese football for more than two decades.
In his farewell message, Ronaldo reflected on the responsibility and privilege of representing his country.
“To the Portuguese, the day has come to return the number 7 shirt of our national team. I never felt it was exclusively mine. But for 23 years I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it, defending it and carrying it with me to stadiums all over the world,” he said.
“Today the moment has come to hand it over to the future. It was not an easy decision, because there are decisions that are not made only with the head. They are also made with the heart.”
Ronaldo described his international career as a journey that changed his life, emphasizing that his memories went beyond goals, trophies and records.
He recalled the connection he built with Portuguese supporters around the world, including those living abroad who felt closer to their homeland whenever the national team played.
“Football is much bigger than a game. Football is people,” he said.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner acknowledged the unforgettable victories and painful defeats that shaped his career, as well as moments when he could not deliver the results supporters wanted. However, he insisted that his pride in representing Portugal never diminished.
He thanked his teammates, coaches, federation officials, medical staff and other members of the national team setup, as well as his family for sharing the sacrifices that accompanied his career.
Ronaldo also recalled the emotion of singing the national anthem alongside his teammates, with supporters of different generations united by their passion for Portugal.
“Today my journey on the field with the national team ends. I leave with my head held high, with pride in the path I took and with the knowledge that I gave everything I had for Portugal,” he said.
“But I will never stop being one of you. I will continue to suffer, to celebrate and to cheer every victory of Portugal.”
He concluded by thanking the Portuguese people for supporting a dream that began when he was a boy in Madeira.
“Thank you for these 23 years. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for allowing me to live a dream that began when I was just a boy in Madeira, running after a ball.
“The number 7 shirt stays. The pride of having worn it will be mine forever. Portugal will always be in me. Until always, Cristiano Ronaldo.”
A turbulent final chapter
Ronaldo’s retirement follows a difficult period with the national team, marked by disagreements with head coach Jorge Jesus and uncertainty over his international future.
He had considered retiring after Portugal’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup in the round of 16, even preparing a farewell letter. However, Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença persuaded him to continue.
Ronaldo subsequently remained involved in the early stages of the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League campaign under Jesus.
Tensions escalated during the September and October international window. Ronaldo started in a victory over Wales but was an unused substitute against Norway despite earlier indications that he would feature.
He later left the national team camp ahead of a match against Denmark, reportedly citing a broken promise by Jesus.
Portugal won its remaining two group matches without him to secure a place in the Nations League quarterfinals. The federation subsequently fined Ronaldo and imposed a 30-day suspension, applied retrospectively.
In an earlier statement in October, Ronaldo apologized for leaving the camp, accepted that disciplinary action was warranted and insisted he was not retiring. He maintained that he remained available for selection after serving his suspension.
Thursday’s announcement, coming a day before Jesus was scheduled to name his squad for November’s Nations League fixtures against Denmark and Wales, ends speculation about his international future.
An enduring legacy
Ronaldo leaves Portugal with an international record that reflects his extraordinary longevity and influence.
He helped the country win Euro 2016, its first major international trophy, and was also part of the teams that claimed the UEFA Nations League in 2018-19 and 2024-25.
His individual achievements include the most appearances and goals in men’s international football, the most goals in European Championship history and goals at a record six World Cup tournaments.
He also made Portugal’s No. 7 shirt synonymous with his name after taking it following Luís Figo’s retirement.
Fenerbahçe twice fought back from a goal down to claim a dramatic 3-2 home victory over Liverpool on Wednesday, ending their more than 18-year wait for a UEFA Champions League win.
Liverpool took the lead through Trey Nyoni in the 25th minute, but Mason Greenwood equalized four minutes later to send the teams into halftime level at 1-1.
Alexander Isak restored Liverpool’s advantage in the 69th minute before Archie Brown struck four minutes later to make it 2-2. Vedat Muric completed the comeback in the 79th minute, sealing the victory for the Turkish side at Istanbul’s Chobani Stadium.
The result marked Fenerbahce’s first Champions League win since April 2, 2008, when they defeated Chelsea in the quarterfinals of the competition.
Fenerbahçe moved to five points from four matches in the league phase, while Liverpool dropped points for the first time this season.
Despite the victory, Fenerbahçe have yet to keep a clean sheet in six Champions League matches this season, including two playoff fixtures.
Beşiktaş will look to extend their impressive European campaign when they visit Celtic in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, with the Turkish side aiming to strengthen their position among the competition’s leading teams.
The Matchday 4 encounter will kick off at 11:00 p.m. Türkiye time at Celtic Park in Glasgow.
Beşiktaş have collected seven points from their opening three matches, winning twice and drawing once to sit eighth in the standings. Celtic, meanwhile, have lost all three games and are 35th among the 36 teams.
The Scottish side are among four clubs yet to register a point, alongside Viktoria Plzen, Marseille and Ararat-Armenia.
Beşiktaş in strong European form
The Black Eagles have won seven of their nine European matches this season, including qualifying rounds, scoring 17 goals and conceding six.
They began their campaign with two victories over Midtjylland, winning 1-0 and 2-0, before eliminating Hradec Kralove with successive 1-0 victories.
In the playoff round, Beşiktaş defeated Kauno Zalgiris 3-0 at home before losing the return leg 1-0 away.
They carried that momentum into the league phase, beating Marseille 4-1 at home and Hoffenheim 3-2 in Germany before drawing 2-2 with Crystal Palace at Dolmabahçe.
Their record stands at seven wins, one draw and one defeat from nine matches.
Orkun Kökçü faces late fitness test
Beşiktaş captain Orkun Kökçü could return after spending several weeks recovering from a foot injury sustained against Hoffenheim in the second round of the league phase.
The midfielder has resumed training with the squad after suffering a partial tear of the plantar fascia in his right foot and trauma-related separation of the heel fat pad.
Ernest Poku has also returned to training after missing the recent Süper Lig match against Kasımpaşa because of illness.
The coaching staff will assess both players before deciding whether they can feature against Celtic.
Fabio Miretti is the only confirmed absentee, with the midfielder sidelined by a shoulder injury.
Beşiktaş approach European milestone
Thursday’s match will be Beşiktaş’s 268th appearance in European competition.
The Istanbul club have recorded 104 victories, 51 draws and 112 defeats in their previous 267 matches, scoring 365 goals and conceding 401.
Their meeting with Celtic will also be their 143rd in the UEFA Cup and Europa League. Beşiktaş have won 64 of their previous 142 matches in the competition, drawing 26 and losing 52, with 226 goals scored and 186 conceded.
The Black Eagles will also play their 134th European away match. Their previous 133 outings have produced 36 wins, 24 draws and 73 defeats, with 154 goals scored and 248 conceded.
Beşiktaş have reached the quarterfinals of European competition three times. They advanced to the last eight of the European Cup in 1986-87, the UEFA Cup in 2002-03 and the Europa League in 2016-17, when they were eliminated by Lyon on penalties.
Celtic struggle in Europe despite domestic dominance
Celtic have faced Turkish opposition twice before, both times against Fenerbahçe during the 2015-16 Europa League group stage. The first meeting in Istanbul ended 1-1, while the return fixture in Glasgow finished 2-2.
Beşiktaş, however, will face a Scottish club in European competition for the first time.
Despite their European struggles, Celtic remain strong domestically, leading the Scottish Premiership with 28 points, four ahead of second-place Rangers.
Their European campaign has been far less successful. They opened with a 3-1 home defeat to Ferencvaros before losing 4-1 away to Benfica and 2-1 at home to Celta Vigo.
Thursday’s match therefore offers Celtic an opportunity to revive their European campaign, while Beşiktaş will seek to maintain their position among the league phase’s leading teams.
European records and leading scorers
Beşiktaş’s biggest European victory came against Faroe Islands side B36 Torshavn, whom they defeated 6-0 in the 2018-19 Europa League qualifying rounds. They also recorded a 5-0 away win over Sarajevo in the 2002-03 UEFA Cup and 5-1 victories against Maccabi Tel Aviv and Lugano.
Their heaviest defeat came against Liverpool, who beat them 8-0 at Anfield in the 2007-08 Champions League group stage. They also suffered 6-0 losses against Leeds United in 2000-01 and Dynamo Kyiv in 2016-17.
Former striker Oktay Derelioğlu remains the club’s leading European goalscorer with 14 goals between 1993 and 1999. Vincent Aboubakar and Cenk Tosun follow with 13 each, while Ricardo Quaresma and Bobo have scored 12 apiece.
Among the current squad, Orkun Kökçü, Amir Murillo and Hyeon-gyu Oh have three European goals each, while Semih Kılıçsoy has two. Vaclav Cerny, İlhan Fakılı, Ernest Poku, Wilfred Ndidi and Junior Olaitan have scored once each.
Milot Rashica has four European goals but is not included in the current squad’s European roster.
Tributes have poured in from across the football world after Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel died aged 30 following a collision with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono during a Spanish second-division match, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
De Miguel suffered cardiac arrest after being struck in the chest during Monday’s 2-2 draw at Tenerife and died in hospital Tuesday, his club confirmed.
Spain’s National Police have opened an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter. Under Spanish law, deaths resulting from non-natural causes, including accidents, are subject to judicial investigation.
However, Santa Cruz de Tenerife chief prosecutor Jose Luis Sanchez-Jauregui told Spanish news agency EFE that criminal proceedings were unlikely because the collision occurred during normal play.
The incident happened in stoppage time when De Miguel chased a long ball near midfield and Owono rushed out of his penalty area to challenge for it. The goalkeeper, approaching from the opposite direction, struck the Tenerife forward in the chest.
De Miguel initially dropped to his knees, clutching his torso, before collapsing onto his back with his arms at his sides. He received emergency medical attention before being taken to hospital.
Owono was shown a straight red card for the challenge. Although he initially began walking off the field, the goalkeeper turned around and joined players from both teams who rushed to De Miguel’s aid.
The match was abandoned following the incident.
The goalkeeper’s Instagram account, which had nearly 30,000 followers, was deactivated Tuesday. Separately, Michel Owono, a footballer with sixth-division Spanish club Can Vidalet who shares the goalkeeper’s surname, reported receiving racist abuse from people who mistakenly identified him as the Andorra player.
Tenerife, based in Spain’s Canary Islands, said it was devastated by the loss of a player affectionately known as “Demi” among his teammates.
“There are no words of comfort,” the club said in a statement. “There is absolutely nothing that can alleviate this profound sense of sorrow. We stand with his devastated family, his loved ones, and the entire Tenerife community.”
Club president Felipe Miñambres said players, their families and supporters would need professional assistance to cope with the tragedy.
“We will need professional help and the help of all of our fans,” he said. “They will be feeling the same way that we are feeling today.”
Tenerife requested the postponement of its scheduled league match against Granada on Saturday.
The club’s largest shareholder, Rayco Garcia, said De Miguel’s body would be transported to Navahermosa, in Spain’s Toledo province, at the family’s request. His teammates and club officials would be present for a final farewell.
Supporters are also expected to gather at the team’s stadium Saturday to honor the forward.
“We will all join forces and get through this together,” Garcia said.
Miñambres said Tenerife wanted to ensure De Miguel received a fitting tribute and would remain part of the club’s history.
“We need to give Demi the tribute he deserves,” he said. “And from that point on we will always carry him in our hearts.”
De Miguel is survived by his wife and their daughter, who was born last year.
Former teammate Fernando Román also paid tribute, describing him as humble, hardworking and, above all, a good person.
Recalling holidays they had shared, time spent with their daughters and other personal memories, Román said he had considered De Miguel family rather than simply a friend.
“I can’t believe you are gone,” he wrote on social media. “You can’t imagine how much I am going to miss you.”
Football world unites in tribute
Condolences arrived from clubs, players and football organizations across Europe following the announcement of De Miguel’s death.
FC Andorra, owned by former Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, expressed its sympathy to De Miguel’s family, teammates and Tenerife.
“We wish to extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jesus de Miguel, to all his colleagues and friends, and to CD Tenerife. May he rest in peace,” the club said.
Pique also posted a message on X, writing: “I am sorry with all my soul. Rest in peace, Jesus.”
Argentina great Lionel Messi sent his condolences through Instagram, while Real Madrid players observed a minute of silence during training.
Kylian Mbappe also expressed his sadness on social media, writing: “So much sadness. There are no words.”
Manchester United and Liverpool were among the English clubs that paid tribute, while Espanyol postponed the presentation of its new coach.
The Spanish football federation postponed all Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina matches scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. UEFA also announced that moments of silence would be observed at its matches throughout the week.
The tributes continued during Tuesday’s Champions League fixtures.
Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Villarreal, the three Spanish clubs hosting matches, omitted the competition’s customary anthem before kickoff in De Miguel’s memory.
Stadiums across Europe, including Old Trafford during Manchester United’s match against Roma, observed moments of silence as images of the Tenerife forward appeared on stadium screens.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and midfielder Mikel Merino, both Spaniards, also opened their news conferences ahead of Wednesday’s match against Slavia Prague by paying tribute to De Miguel.
A career built through Spain’s lower divisions
Born in Madrid in 1996, De Miguel spent nearly a decade working his way through Spanish football’s lower divisions before establishing himself as a second-division striker.
He began his senior career with Leganes B in 2015 before moving between several clubs, primarily in and around the Spanish capital.
His most productive scoring season came after joining Castellón in 2023. He scored 16 goals, playing a significant role in the club’s promotion to the second division.
After struggling to reproduce that form in the higher tier, he moved to Tenerife in the summer of 2025.
The transfer revived his scoring form. Back in the third division, he netted six goals in his first five appearances and finished the campaign with 11, helping Tenerife secure promotion.
Standing 1.9 meters (6 feet, 2 inches) tall and favoring his left foot, De Miguel was a traditional center forward who relied on his physical presence and ability to compete for aerial balls.
Although he was not widely recognized among Spain’s casual football supporters, he had built a career through persistence and years of work in the lower divisions.
Fatal collisions remain rare in football
De Miguel’s death has renewed attention on the risks of serious injuries during football matches, although fatal on-field collisions remain extremely rare.
Last year, 19-year-old goalkeeper Raul Ramirez died after sustaining head injuries during a fifth-division match in Spain. The Colindres goalkeeper suffered two cardiorespiratory arrests, one on the field and another inside the ambulance transporting him to hospital. He was declared brain dead two days later.
In 2001, Ukrainian goalkeeper Serhiy Perkhun died from head injuries sustained in a collision during a match while playing for CSKA Moscow.
Former Málaga goalkeeper Jose Antonio Gallardo also died in January 1987, more than three weeks after colliding with Celta Vigo forward Baltazar during a second-division match.
Authorities have not disclosed the precise medical cause of De Miguel’s death beyond confirming that he suffered cardiac arrest. There were no reported indications that he had a pre-existing medical condition.
Trabzonspor will look to extend their perfect start to the UEFA Conference League when they host German side Freiburg at Papara Park on Thursday, with Thomas Reis’ men chasing a third consecutive European victory and a place among the competition’s early pace-setters.
The Black Sea Storm head into the Matchday 3 encounter in impressive form, having won their opening two league-phase matches and recorded seven successive victories across all competitions.
Freiburg, meanwhile, arrive in Türkiye with renewed confidence after recovering from a difficult spell with back-to-back domestic wins.
Thursday’s match, which kicks off at 8:45 p.m. local time, will also mark Trabzonspor’s 160th appearance in European competition and their first meeting with Freiburg.
Trabzonspor have made an encouraging start to their continental campaign, opening with an entertaining 4-2 away victory over Finland’s KuPS before beating Scotland’s Hearts 2-0 at Papara Park.
Those results have complemented an impressive domestic run under Reis, who has overseen victories against Beşiktaş, Rizespor and Gaziantep, among others, as the Turkish side continue to build momentum.
Their home form has been particularly encouraging, with six consecutive victories at Papara Park. Another win would extend that sequence to seven and give them a third straight triumph in major European competition, a feat they have not achieved since November 2013.
A victory would also see Trabzonspor win their first three league-phase matches in a European campaign for only the second time in the club’s history.
However, Freiburg represent a different level of opposition from their previous Conference League opponents, bringing considerable European experience despite their inconsistent start to the season.
Julian Schuster’s side reached last season’s UEFA Europa League final before losing to Aston Villa in Istanbul, underlining their ability to compete against established continental opposition.
Freiburg began this season’s Conference League campaign with a narrow 3-2 victory over Jablonec but suffered a 3-0 defeat away to Monaco in their second fixture. Their European setback was followed by a 3-1 Bundesliga loss to Bayern Munich, extending a difficult spell for the German club.
They have since responded with a 3-2 victory over Wolfsburg in the DFB-Pokal before securing a 2-1 away win against Augsburg in the Bundesliga.
Despite that recovery, Freiburg’s away record in European competition remains a concern. They have lost four of their previous five continental away matches, a statistic Trabzonspor will hope to exploit in front of their home supporters.
The visitors will also be wary of a Trabzonspor side that have demonstrated considerable attacking threat, scoring four goals against KuPS and producing another convincing performance against Rizespor in the league.
Thursday’s encounter will be the first time the clubs have faced each other, adding another chapter to Trabzonspor’s European history.
The Turkish side have played 159 matches in continental competition since making their European debut in the 1976-77 season, recording 58 victories, 39 draws and 62 defeats. They have scored 200 goals and conceded 216.
Their European record includes 30 matches in the European Cup and UEFA Champions League, 99 in the UEFA Cup and Europa League, 12 in the Cup Winners’ Cup, eight in the Intertoto Cup and 10 in the Conference League.
The Freiburg match will be Trabzonspor’s 11th appearance in the Conference League, a competition they first entered during the 2021-22 season.
Across their previous 10 matches in the tournament, they have recorded three victories, four draws and three defeats, scoring 13 goals and conceding 14.
Their European campaign this season also included two defeats against Hungarian side Ferencváros in the Europa League playoff round, losing 1-0 at home before suffering a 4-0 defeat away. They subsequently dropped into the Conference League, where their performances have been considerably more encouraging.
The match will also end a 27-year wait for Trabzonspor to face another German opponent in European competition. Their previous meeting with a German club came against Hamburg in the 1999-2000 Intertoto Cup semifinals.
Trabzonspor drew the first leg 2-2 at home on July 28, 1999, but lost the return leg 4-1 on Aug. 4 to exit the competition.
Overall, the Turkish club have faced German opposition eight times, winning once, drawing twice and losing five matches.
Their biggest European victory remains a 6-0 win over Albania’s Vllaznia in the 2007-08 Intertoto Cup, while their heaviest defeat came against Barcelona in the 1990-91 Cup Winners’ Cup, when they lost 7-2 away from home.
Former striker Hami Mandıralı remains the club’s leading European goalscorer with 23 goals.
Trabzonspor will have several selection problems to manage ahead of Freiburg’s visit.
Sidny Lopes Cabral is suspended following his red card against Hearts, while Aral Şimşir, Franculino Dju, Arseniy Batagov and young goalkeeper Onuralp Çevikkan are ruled out through injury.
There are also concerns over the availability of Ruslan Malinovskyi, Okay Yokuşlu and Cihan Çanak, while Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu’s fitness will be monitored after he returned to the starting lineup against Gaziantep following a two-match absence through injury.
Freiburg are expected to be without Philipp Treu, who is recovering from an ankle problem, and Florent Muslija, who remains sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury.
Schuster should nevertheless have experienced options available, particularly in central defense, where Matthias Ginter and Philipp Lienhart are expected to provide stability.
Maximilian Eggestein and Yannik Engelhardt are among the midfield alternatives, while Vincenzo Grifo, Yuito Suzuki and Jan-Niklas Beste could supply the creativity behind Igor Matanovic.
Matanovic arrives in Istanbul in encouraging form, having scored in each of Freiburg’s last two matches.
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