Sports
Fenerbahçe’s fortress falls apart as title hopes, trophies slip away
Fenerbahçe’s 2023-24 campaign began with fireworks, high hopes and the global arrival of Jose Mourinho at the helm – but it closed in a haze of defensive disarray, derby heartbreak and an empty trophy cabinet.
The final blow came in the form of a stunning 4-2 defeat to already-relegated Hatayspor in Week 37, a result that captured the essence of a season that promised glory but delivered regret.
Under Mourinho’s early leadership, Fenerbahçe looked like a title machine, boasting the best defense in the Süper Lig for much of the first half of the season.
But as pressure mounted and the stakes grew, that defensive solidity crumbled.
In their last ten official matches, including league and Turkish Cup games, Fenerbahçe conceded seventeen goals – a collapse that cost them both the league title and a chance at silverware.
During that 10-game stretch, they managed six wins, one draw and three losses, scoring 26 times but leaking goals with alarming consistency.
Galatasaray knocked them out of the Turkish Cup in Kadıköy with a 2-1 victory, Beşiktaş silenced them twice – 1-0 away and 1-0 again at home – and even their draw, a 3-3 rollercoaster against Kayserispor, highlighted the instability at the back.
Despite beating sides like Bodrum FK, Trabzonspor, Sivasspor, Gaziantep FK, Başakşehir and Eyüpspor, Fenerbahçe failed to keep a single clean sheet in any of those 10 matches.
When it came to derbies, the Canaries simply did not rise to the occasion.
In five heated matchups against Galatasaray and Beşiktaş across league and cup competitions, Fenerbahçe mustered just one point – a goalless draw with Galatasaray in the second half of the season.
Every other derby ended in defeat.
They were outscored 7-2 in these games and consistently failed to impose themselves in matches that mattered most to fans and club history alike.
Defensive troubles were not confined to the big games.
Over the course of the league season, Fenerbahçe conceded in both home and away matches against eight different teams: Göztepe, Hatayspor, Kayserispor, Trabzonspor, Gaziantep FK, Beşiktaş, Başakşehir and Eyüpspor.
Against Kayserispor and Hatayspor alone, they allowed five goals each, while Göztepe put four past them across two meetings.
Neymar Jr., the mercurial Brazilian forward whose career has been a mix of brilliance, setbacks, and controversy, reminded the football world of his enduring talent with a two-goal performance in Santos’ 2-1 win over Vasco da Gama on Thursday.
The display not only rescued vital points for his boyhood club but also reignited debate over his potential inclusion in Brazil’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
At 34, Neymar’s path back to form has been interrupted by injuries, including knee surgery late last year and a long absence from the national team.
Yet, against Vasco at the Urbano Caldeira Stadium, he demonstrated that flair and instinct remain intact.
Breaking the drought
This was Neymar’s third appearance of the season and only his second full 90 minutes.
Critics had questioned whether the winger could still influence matches after going nearly two months without a goal, his last coming in December 2025.
Neymar silenced the doubters emphatically. His first goal came in the 35th minute, a clinical finish inside the box from a Joao Schmidt through ball.
The second, in the 68th minute, was pure Neymar: he nutmegged a defender on the left flank and curled a 20-yard shot into the top corner.
Vasco’s Dimitri Payet pulled one back late, but Santos held on, climbing to mid-table early in the Serie A season.
Post-match, Neymar addressed critics with characteristic candor. “Last week they said I was the worst player in the world. Today I scored two goals, and that’s what matters,” he told SporTV. “One day you’re no good or you’re ‘retired’; the next, people say you have to go to the World Cup.” He acknowledged lingering fatigue but emphasized progress: “This was my third game of the year and only my second full 90 minutes. I felt some cramping at the end, but that’s part of the process.”
Return to Santos
Neymar’s journey back to Santos, where he began as a 17-year-old in 2009, was seen as a chance to revive his career after a troubled stint at Al-Hilal from 2023 to 2025, where injuries limited him to just three appearances.
He played a decisive role in helping Santos avoid relegation in the 2025 season, scoring five goals in the final five games.
A contract extension in January 2026 signaled his commitment, but fitness remained a challenge.
A meniscus operation in December 2025 in Doha, intended to correct lingering knee pain from an ACL tear in 2023, delayed his full return.
Since leaving Paris Saint-Germain, Neymar has battled a cascade of injuries that sidelined him from the national team for over two years, his last cap coming in October 2023.
World Cup aspirations at stake
Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 caps, Neymar’s legacy is secure, yet a World Cup trophy has eluded him.
With the 2026 tournament approaching in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., he faces a race against time to regain full fitness.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti has emphasized that only fully fit players will make the squad, leaving Neymar on the fringe despite his experience.
After his brace against Vasco, Neymar remained measured about his World Cup chances.
Speaking to Caze, he said, “I don’t know what will happen from now on, I don’t know about next year. It may be that when December comes, I’ll want to retire. I’m living year to year now.” He acknowledged the year ahead as pivotal: “This year is very important, not only for Santos, but also for the Brazilian national team, as it’s a World Cup year, and for me too.”
Career defined by brilliance and resilience
Hints of retirement at 34, Neymar is placed alongside stars like Messi and Ronaldo, navigating football’s twilight years.
From his debut at 17, scoring 107 goals in 225 games for Santos, to record-breaking transfers and multiple league titles, his career has been remarkable.
Internationally, he led Brazil to the 2013 Confederations Cup and 2016 Olympic gold, though World Cup glory has eluded him.
Turkish motorcycling is set for a historic leap as three-time World Superbike champion Toprak Razgatlıoğlu prepares to make his long-awaited MotoGP debut in Thailand, becoming the first rider from his country to compete in the sport’s premier class.
The 29-year-old, born in Alanya on Oct. 16, 1996, begins his first season in MotoGP this weekend at the Thailand Grand Prix at Chang International Circuit in Buriram. For Razgatlıoğlu, the moment is both personal and national.
“It’s exciting to be the first Turkish rider in MotoGP,” he said ahead of the season opener. “Everything is different compared to Superbike. My focus now is to adapt. After four or five races, I believe we’ll be in a better place.”
Toprak to the world
Razgatlıoğlu’s journey began at age 7 under the guidance of his father, Arif Razgatlıoğlu, known in Türkiye as “Tek Teker Arif.”
By 16, Toprak had broken the Istanbul Park lap record and claimed the Turkish championship. In 2015, he won the European Superstock 600 title, signaling the arrival of a rare talent.
His career accelerated under the mentorship of five-time Supersport world champion Kenan Sofuoğlu, who took him under his wing as a teenager and guided his rise through the ranks.
Superbike legacy
Razgatlıoğlu leaves Superbike World Championship as one of its modern greats. He captured world titles in 2021, 2024 and 2025, becoming the first Turkish rider to win the championship and ending Jonathan Rea’s six-year reign with his breakthrough crown for Yamaha.
Across eight seasons, he made 258 starts, stood on the podium 173 times and played the Turkish national anthem 78 times from the top step. In 2024, he set a championship record with 13 consecutive victories.
He delivered Yamaha’s long-awaited title in 2021, then gave BMW its first Superbike crown in 2024 and a second riders’ championship in 2025. Few riders have reshaped two manufacturers’ histories the way he has.
Now he steps into the unknown.
MotoGP challenge
Razgatlıoğlu will race the Yamaha YZR-M1 for Prima Pramac Racing in 2026, carrying the number 07 in tribute to his hometown Antalya’s license plate code. The technical leap from production-based Superbikes to carbon-braked, prototype MotoGP machines demands a new riding style and a reset in expectations.
“The bikes are completely different,” he said. “We are working to adapt my style. The first goal is to feel comfortable on the bike. Fighting at the front will take time.”
He has circled 2027 as a key target year, when sweeping regulation changes are set to reshape the grid. If 2026 is about learning, 2027 is about striking.
“If we truly understand everything in the first year, 2027 can be very different for us,” he said.
Understanding the arena
Founded in 1949 by the FIM, MotoGP represents the pinnacle of motorcycle racing, featuring purpose-built 1000cc prototypes that are not road legal and unavailable to the public. The championship adopted the MotoGP name in 2002, replacing the old 500cc premier class.
Italian legend Giacomo Agostini remains the most decorated rider in Grand Prix history with 15 world titles across classes, including eight in the premier category. Modern icon Valentino Rossi claimed nine world championships and 115 race wins, while Marc Márquez has dominated the 1000cc era with seven MotoGP crowns.
Razgatlıoğlu enters a paddock stacked with established champions and factory-backed stars. The Thailand Grand Prix opens with practice on Friday, followed by qualifying and a sprint race Saturday, before Sunday’s 26-lap main event.
Beyond results, Razgatlıoğlu sees his move as a catalyst for Turkish motorsport.
“Motor racing is not widely known in our country,” he said. “As we succeed, more young riders will come. We need more athletes so we can represent Türkiye better.”
Süper Lig leaders Galatasaray will face Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League round of 16, setting up a heavyweight clash between two clubs who know each other well and have little left to hide.
The draw at UEFA headquarters in Nyon on Friday paired the Turkish champions with the Premier League frontrunners, with Galatasaray hosting the first leg in Istanbul before traveling to Anfield for the return.
It is a tie layered with history, recent tension and genuine belief on both sides.
Galatasaray did it the hard way. After finishing 20th in the new 36-team league phase, Okan Buruk’s side were forced into the knockout playoffs.
There, they survived a wild 7-5 aggregate battle against Juventus.
A commanding 5-2 win in Istanbul was nearly erased in Turin, where Juventus forced extra time. Galatasaray struck twice more to seal progression, underlining both their firepower and their nerve.
Liverpool, under Arne Slot, were more measured. They finished inside the top eight of the league phase to earn a seeded berth.
Built on defensive control and ruthless efficiency, they have looked every bit a contender for a seventh European crown.
The round of 16 also delivered other headline ties: Real Madrid against Manchester City, PSG versus Chelsea, Newcastle United facing Barcelona, Atletico Madrid meeting Tottenham Hotspur, Atalanta drawing Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen up against Arsenal, and Bodø/Glimt paired with Sporting CP. No same nation clashes. No easy routes.
There is fresh history between Galatasaray and Liverpool.
In the league phase earlier this season, Galatasaray stunned the English side 1-0 at Rams Park.
Victor Osimhen finished a swift counterattack to secure the win, while the hosts absorbed pressure with discipline. Liverpool dominated territory but struggled to break down a compact back line marshaled by Abdulkerim Bardakcı and Davinson Sanchez.
It was one of the few nights this season when the Premier League leaders left frustrated.
That result will fuel belief in Istanbul and sharpen focus on Merseyside.
Osimhen remains Galatasaray’s focal point, thriving with his pace and direct running.
Mauro Icardi offers poise in the box, while Dries Mertens and Kerem Demirbay supply craft between the lines.
At the back, Fernando Muslera still commands his area with authority, his experience on European nights impossible to quantify.
Liverpool counter with Mohamed Salah’s relentless production, Virgil van Dijk’s authority and the balance brought by Alexis Mac Allister in midfield. Slot’s 4-3-3 presses high and moves quickly, yet the loss in Istanbul exposed that even this Liverpool side can be unsettled by intensity and speed in transition.
Both teams arrive in form. Galatasaray sit top of the Süper Lig, locked in a tight race and unbeaten in their last 10 domestic matches. Liverpool lead the Premier League and carry a long unbeaten run of their own across competitions.
The first leg in Istanbul promises noise, heat and belief. The return at Anfield promises control, tempo and a push from the Kop. The winner will face either PSG or Chelsea in the quarterfinals, with the final set for Budapest.
Violence erupted across Mexico following the death of a powerful drug lord, raising concerns about the country’s readiness to co-host the World Cup in just over three months.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino remains confident.
“Of course, we are closely monitoring the situation in Mexico, but I want to make it clear that we have full confidence in Mexico, in President Claudia Sheinbaum and in the authorities,” Infantino said Tuesday at a press conference in Colombia. “We are convinced everything will proceed as smoothly as possible.”
“Mexico is a great country, and like anywhere in the world, incidents happen,” he added. “That is why governments, police and authorities exist to maintain order and security.”
The unrest followed the killing of Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Cartel members responded with a wave of violence, setting cars ablaze and blocking roads in nearly a dozen states, leaving at least 70 people dead, according to authorities.
Four high-level football matches in the local leagues were postponed last Sunday, including one in the central city of Queretaro. Mexico defeated Iceland 4-0 late Wednesday in a friendly match.
Before the match, a minute of silence was held at Corregidora Stadium in honor of the soldiers who died during the operation to capture Oseguera.
Thirteen World Cup matches are scheduled in Mexico, including the opening game in Mexico City on June 11 between the co-host and South Africa. Guadalajara, the central hub of the Jalisco cartel, is scheduled to host four matches.
Colombia is set to play one game in Mexico City and one in Guadalajara.
“Our first two matches are in Mexico, but we know they will overcome this and move forward,” said Ramon Jesurun, president of the Colombian Football Federation. “I have absolute and total confidence in my geopolitical thinking that this is an issue Mexico will overcome, and overcome very quickly.”
Other nations have expressed more concern. The Portuguese Football Federation said Tuesday that it is closely monitoring developments ahead of a planned friendly against Mexico in March. Jamaica is set to play New Caledonia in Guadalajara on March 26 in an intercontinental playoff semifinal, with the winner advancing to face Congo for a World Cup spot.
“The games are at the end of March, so we still have another month to see what happens, but it is making me very nervous, to be honest,” said Michael Ricketts, president of the Jamaican Football Federation. “We will be listening for CONCACAF and FIFA instructions on whether the games are being played or whether they are immediately looking for other options.”
Another Mexican city, Monterrey, will host a playoff where Bolivia plays Suriname, with the winner facing Iraq for a spot in the tournament.
On Monday, Sheinbaum said there is “every guarantee” that the World Cup matches in Guadalajara will be played as planned and added that there is “no risk.”
“We are in regular contact with the presidency and the authorities in Mexico, and we are monitoring the situation,” Infantino said. “The World Cup is going to be an incredible celebration.”
The knockout stages of Europe’s top club competitions take shape on Friday as UEFA conducts the round-of-16 draws for the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League at its Nyon headquarters in Switzerland.
For the first time under the expanded league-phase format, the draws will not only decide round-of-16 matchups but also map the quarterfinal and semifinal routes, giving clubs a full view of the road to the finals in Budapest and beyond.
Galatasaray await English opposition
Galatasaray, Türkiye’s reigning champions, booked their spot in the round of 16 with a dramatic 7-5 aggregate win over Juventus in the playoff round.
Under UEFA’s new draw rules, the Istanbul giants will face one of two English Premier League powerhouses: Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur.
The 16-team round features eight seeded clubs, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting CP, and Manchester City, who finished in the top eight of the league phase and will host the second legs.
The remaining eight teams, including Galatasaray, earned their spots through the knockout playoffs: Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle United, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Bodo/Glimt, and Galatasaray.
Round-of-16 fixtures kick off with first legs on March 10-11, followed by return legs on March 17-18.
The draw will immediately reveal the path to the final, offering a rare look at potential quarterfinal and semifinal clashes.
Fenerbahçe’s do-or-die scenario
Fenerbahçe faces a monumental task in the Europa League, trailing 0-3 from the first leg against Nottingham Forest.
A stunning comeback would see the Turkish side enter Friday’s draw as an unseeded team, potentially facing Real Betis or Midtjylland in the round of 16.
Eight teams already qualified from the league phase, Olympique Lyon, Aston Villa, Midtjylland, Real Betis, Porto, Braga, SC Freiburg, and Roma, will be joined by the winners of today’s playoff second legs to complete the round-of-16 field.
Matches are set for March 12 and 19, mirroring the schedule of the Conference League.
Conference League bracket
The Conference League follows the same structure, with the top eight league-phase teams seeded and playoff winners filling out the remaining spots.
The draw will fix the bracket through the semifinals, giving teams clarity on the potential road to the final. Turkish clubs are not represented at this stage.
These draws mark a pivotal moment in the 2025/26 European season.
Galatasaray’s round-of-16 entry offers a chance to test themselves against two of England’s elite sides, while Fenerbahçe’s fight for survival against Nottingham Forest could be a defining chapter in their continental campaign.
Galatasaray are through to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2014, but they needed every ounce of resilience to survive a furious, 10-man Juventus side that refused to bow out quietly in Turin.
Holding a commanding 5-2 advantage from the first leg in Istanbul, the Turkish champions appeared in control of the tie.
Instead, they were dragged into a bruising, emotional contest that swung wildly before being settled by two clinical blows in extra time.
Juventus won 3-2 on the night, but Galatasaray advanced 7-5 on aggregate after a drama-filled 120 minutes.
Juventus ignite belief
Juventus entered the match in poor domestic form, winless in five and short on confidence. What followed was a display that defied their recent struggles.
The hosts pressed early and created clear chances.
Federico Gatti headed over from close range, while Kenan Yıldız and Manuel Locatelli both tested Uğurcan Çakır.
The breakthrough arrived in the 37th minute when Lucas Torreira clipped Khephren Thuram in the box. Locatelli converted the penalty with authority, cutting the deficit and igniting the crowd.
Juventus sensed vulnerability. Galatasaray, so fluent in the first leg, looked uneasy under pressure.
Then came the turning point.
Red card and resistance
Three minutes after halftime, Lloyd Kelly was dismissed. Initially shown a second yellow for catching Barış Alper Yılmaz while landing from a jump, the decision was upgraded to a straight red after a pitchside review for serious foul play. Kelly stood in disbelief. Juventus were down to 10 men, mirroring the first leg when they also finished a man short.
The dismissal should have killed the comeback. Instead, it fueled it.
Gatti atoned for his earlier misses by tapping in at the back post from Pierre Kalulu’s delivery with 20 minutes remaining. Yıldız then struck the post as Juventus surged forward with remarkable intensity for a side reduced in numbers.
With eight minutes left in regulation, Weston McKennie rose inside the six-yard box to head home and level the tie on aggregate. Against the odds, Juventus had erased a three-goal deficit.
“I feel like crying. We gave our heart and soul,” Locatelli said afterward. “These games stay in your heart.”
Fine margins in extra time
Juventus carried their momentum into extra time and nearly completed the turnaround. Edon Zhegrova found himself unmarked six yards out but blazed over in what will haunt him. It was the clearest chance of the tie.
Galatasaray punished the miss with ruthless efficiency.
Just before the break in extra time, Victor Osimhen collected a pass from Yılmaz inside the area and calmly slid his finish through Mattia Perin’s legs. The goal halted Juventus’ charge and restored control to the visitors.
Çakır then preserved the aggregate lead with a sharp reflex save from Zhegrova.
As Juventus tired, spaces opened. In the closing stages, Yılmaz burst forward on the counterattack and applied the decisive finish, ending hopes of penalties.
Galatasaray’s progression owed more to resolve than dominance. Despite playing nearly 75 minutes with a numerical advantage, they struggled to dictate tempo and were repeatedly pinned back by a side reduced to 10.
Yet the individual quality of Osimhen, signed at significant cost last summer, proved decisive when it mattered most.
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