Sports
Galatasaray face stern test at Beşiktaş as Süper Lig race tightens
Defending champions Galatasaray head into hostile territory on Saturday night to face fourth-placed Beşiktaş in a derby that could reshape the Süper Lig title race.
The Round 25 clash at Tüpraş Stadyumu kicks off at 8:00 p.m. local time, with more than 40,000 supporters expected.
Galatasaray sit on 58 points after 24 matches, four ahead of second-placed Fenerbahçe and 12 clear of Beşiktaş. With 10 rounds to follow, the margin for error is narrowing.
Balanced rivalry
Since their first meeting in 1924, the Istanbul rivals have faced each other 359 times in all competitions.
Galatasaray have won 128 of those matches, Beşiktaş 116, with 115 draws. A total of 972 goals have been scored in the fixture.
Recent league meetings underline how little separates them.
Over the last 10 Süper Lig derbies, both sides have four wins apiece and there have been two draws.
Beşiktaş, however, have turned their home ground into an advantage, winning eight of their last 10 home games against Galatasaray across competitions.
Galatasaray’s numbers and structure
Galatasaray’s position at the top has been built on efficiency at both ends. They have scored 58 goals, the highest total in the league, and conceded just 18. Their goal difference of plus 40 is the strongest in the division.
Okan Buruk has largely deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation, built on controlled buildup and quick transitions once possession is regained.
The double pivot in midfield has allowed the attacking trio to operate higher, while fullbacks push forward to stretch defensive lines.
Mauro Icardi has led the scoring with 13 league goals, while Victor Osimhen has added 10.
Barış Alper Yılmaz has provided direct running from wide areas, and Leroy Sane has contributed six goals along with consistent chance creation. Gabriel Sara has added five goals and assists combined, linking midfield and attack.
Defensively, Uğurcan Çakır remains the first choice in goal, protected by Davinson Sanchez and Abdülkerim Bardakcı in central defense.
Injuries could influence selection. Osimhen and Icardi are managing physical concerns, and defensive absences, including suspension, may force adjustments in the back line.
Squad depth will be tested in a high-intensity environment.
Beşiktaş’s pursuit
Beşiktaş enter the derby on 46 points with 13 wins and only four defeats. Under Sergen Yalçın, they have shown greater balance in recent weeks and are unbeaten in five matches.
They have scored 45 goals, the fourth-highest total in the league, but conceded 29, a figure that reflects occasional defensive lapses. Yalçın has also favored a 4-2-3-1 system, often compact without the ball and direct once possession is won.
Despite leaving for Aston Villa in January, Tammy Abraham’s seven goals remain the benchmark, while Cengiz Ünder and El Bilal Toure have contributed five goals each.
Wilfred Ndidi has provided defensive stability in midfield, allowing attacking players greater freedom.
Beşiktaş also face selection issues. Injuries in defense and a suspension in midfield may require rotation, particularly against a side that has averaged more than two goals per game.
Tactical context
The match brings together the league’s most productive attack against a side that has been strong at home.
Galatasaray’s ability to control central areas and convert chances has been decisive this season. Beşiktaş’s home form and recent unbeaten run offer encouragement.
Set pieces may carry added importance given both teams’ aerial threats. Discipline and defensive organization could also prove decisive, especially with key players unavailable.
For Galatasaray, victory would extend their lead and reinforce their position entering the final stretch.
For Beşiktaş, three points would reduce the gap and strengthen their case in the race for Champions League qualification while reviving outside title hopes.
Iranian striker Sara Didar fought back tears on Wednesday as journalists asked about the escalating conflict engulfing her homeland.
The 21-year-old forward, a rising star with Bam Khatoon FC in Iran’s Kowsar Women Football League, spoke at a press conference ahead of Iran’s second group-stage match in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
“Obviously, we’re all concerned and sad at what has happened to Iran and our families,” Didar said, voice trembling. “But I really hope it’s very good for our country, to have good news ahead, and I hope my country would be strongly alive.”
Her words captured the emotional strain facing athletes competing thousands of miles from home while their country reels from violence.
Head coach Marziyeh Jafari, a seasoned figure in Iranian women’s football with 11 domestic titles since 2008 and AFC Coach of the Year for Women in 2025, reflected the team’s dual burden.
“We have so many concerns regarding our families and the people in Iran. Nobody loves war. But here, we are coming to play football professionally and we do our best to concentrate on the match ahead,” Jafari said.
She emphasized that internet disruptions and communication blackouts left the squad disconnected from real-time updates on loved ones, heightening the pressure on the team.
Iran opened their Group A campaign with a 3-0 loss to South Korea on March 2 at Robina Stadium.
Players stood respectfully during the national anthem but remained silent, a quiet reflection of the turmoil back home.
Thursday’s matchup against host nation Australia at Cbus Super Stadium presents another daunting challenge, as the Matildas seek to secure a quarterfinal berth.
The backdrop is a conflict that erupted Feb. 28, 2026, when U.S. and Israeli forces launched “Operation Epic Fury,” targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure and resulting in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of senior officials.
Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on U.S. and regional targets, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz sent energy markets into turmoil.
Civilian casualties have been staggering. The Iranian Red Crescent Society reports at least 787 dead, including 165 schoolgirls and staff killed at Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab on the conflict’s first day. Rescue teams uncovered more victims amid the rubble, triggering mass funerals and international condemnation. UNESCO labeled the attack a “grave violation” of international humanitarian law.
Amid this chaos, Iran’s women’s team is navigating only its second appearance at the Asian Cup, a testament to the resilience of a program battling limited resources and societal barriers. Ranked 68th by FIFA, the squad qualified through a tough Asian qualification process. Despite the devastation at home, the players aim to focus on the sport, representing a nation in crisis and providing hope amid heartbreak.
“Here, we are professionals, but we carry the hopes of our families and country with us,” Jafari said. Football Australia and the AFC have extended full support to the team, while the Iranian diaspora in Australia has rallied behind them, offering encouragement.
Aryna Sabalenka likes the idea of a safe place to blow off steam. Just maybe not after she is done with it.
The world number one laughed at the concept of tournament “rage rooms,” a space where players can vent away from cameras, after the ATX Open in Austin introduced one following a high-profile outburst by Coco Gauff at the Australian Open.
“Oh, that’s cool, let’s do that,” Sabalenka said Tuesday ahead of Indian Wells. “But I think after me there will be nothing to destroy. I would be there the whole day.”
The Austin initiative came in response to Gauff’s racket-smashing moment in Melbourne, when her quarterfinal loss frustrations were broadcast worldwide. The episode sparked a broader conversation about privacy and how much access tournaments should allow behind the scenes.
Gauff, 21, initially thought news of the rage room was fake.
“That was real? I thought it was AI,” she said, laughing. “My mom sent it to me, and I told her it was AI. She believes so many AI things.”
Once convinced, she embraced it.
“If I felt like I needed to let go some frustration, I would definitely be in the rage room,” Gauff said, adding that smashing plates might be more satisfying than sacrificing another racquet.
The debate has drawn support from leading voices. Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek have both called for stronger protections for players away from constant camera coverage, arguing that raw moments should not always become viral content.
Ring before the swing
While Sabalenka joked about destruction, she also delivered joyful news.
The Belarusian announced her engagement to Georgios Frangulis, CEO of global health brand OakBerry, just days before returning to competition. The pair have been dating since 2024.
“All good guys, everything happened, but look how I look,” she told her 4.7 million Instagram followers, flashing her ring.
She had hinted at the next step after winning the Brisbane International in January, thanking her boyfriend and teasing, “Hopefully, soon I’ll call you something else.”
Sabalenka has not played since falling to Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final. Now she returns at Indian Wells with a bye into the second round, refreshed and still atop the rankings.
The combined ATP 1000 and WTA 1000 main draws begin Wednesday, launching the desert swing with plenty of star power and, if Austin’s experiment catches on, perhaps a few shattered plates behind closed doors.
Galatasaray will travel to Anfield without their supporters after UEFA ordered the Turkish champions to play their next Champions League away match behind closed doors for visiting fans.
UEFA’s disciplinary panel fined the club 40,000 euros ($46,540) and barred their fans from attending the upcoming round of 16 second leg against Liverpool.
The punishment follows crowd trouble during Galatasaray’s knockout phase visit to Juventus on Feb. 25 in Turin.
In a statement, Galatasaray confirmed the decision and said they will appeal to UEFA’s Appeals Body.
The club did not detail the incidents, but reports from Italy pointed to disturbances involving visiting supporters inside and around Allianz Stadium.
Under Article 16 of UEFA’s disciplinary regulations, clubs are responsible for the behavior of their fans, including crowd violence, throwing objects and the use of pyrotechnics.
UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body reviews referee reports, security briefings and video evidence before issuing sanctions.
Fines and partial stadium closures are common. Away fan bans are reserved for more serious or repeat cases.
Galatasaray’s recent European history likely weighed on the verdict. The club were fined and hit with ticket restrictions after Europa League unrest in 2021. Earlier this season, UEFA also examined incidents during group stage matches, keeping the Istanbul giants under close watch.
The timing is critical. Galatasaray host Liverpool at Rams Park on March 10 with a full house expected in Istanbul.
Eight days later, they head to Anfield without their traveling support.
That absence could matter.
Anfield’s atmosphere has long shaped European nights, and Liverpool have been strong at home under Arne Slot.
Galatasaray, who reached the knockouts after an impressive group campaign that included a win over Liverpool in Istanbul, now face the challenge of silencing one of Europe’s loudest stages without their own voices in the stands.
The appeal must be filed within days and could be fast-tracked given the proximity of the fixture. Previous cases show mixed outcomes. Some bans have been reduced, others upheld.
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup nears its June 11 kickoff across stadiums in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the global football community faces an unprecedented ticket scramble.
FIFA has received more than 500 million requests, eclipsing all prior tournaments, even as ticket prices soar to record levels, sparking widespread criticism.
This surge in demand unfolds amid rising geopolitical tensions, regional conflicts, mass protests and political unrest worldwide, raising questions about security, participation and the tournament’s role as a unifying event.
Ticket demand soars
The World Cup, the first to feature 48 teams, has seen ticket sales in multiple high-pressure phases.
FIFA launched a Visa presale in September 2025, followed by an early ticket draw and the Random Selection Draw from Dec. 11, 2025, to Jan.13, 2026.
By late 2025, nearly two million tickets had been sold, with five million requests flooding the third phase in the first 24 hours.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the demand as “unbelievable,” rising from 150 million requests in December 2025 to more than 500 million by early 2026.
Early interest concentrated on marquee group-stage matchups, including Colombia vs. Portugal in Miami, the U.S. opener against Paraguay in Los Angeles and Mexico vs. South Africa in Mexico City.
However, the frenzy has drawn sharp criticism over affordability.
Tickets for the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey started at $4,185, rising to $8,680 for premium seats.
Fan groups, including Football Supporters Europe, decried the prices as “extortionate,” five times higher than Qatar 2022.
FIFA’s $60 “affordable tickets” program for loyal supporters did little to ease concerns and critics warned that secondary markets had worsened access.
Resale platforms have seen extraordinary inflation. In January 2026, final match tickets listed for as much as $230,000, while opening match seats exceeded $5,324.
Infantino acknowledged speculative buying further pushed prices upward.
In February, FIFA unexpectedly opened a limited sales window for 64 of 104 games, revealing unsold tickets despite claims of overwhelming demand.
The Last-Minute Sales phase, scheduled for April 2026, is expected to intensify competition, alongside hospitality packages, corporate travel bundles and promotions like Bank of America Visa-linked ticket access.
Blockbusters drive interest
Matchups across key host cities have fueled the frenzy. Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium will host Colombia vs. Portugal, a clash projected to draw near-capacity crowds.
Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium sees the U.S. face Paraguay in the tournament opener, while Mexico City hosts a group-stage showdown between Mexico and South Africa.
Early interest in these games underscores the allure of a North American World Cup, combining historic football nations with host-market appeal.
Global unrest
The tournament’s ticket mania coincides with worldwide unrest.
The U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, 2026, including the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have reignited nationwide protests.
Demonstrations that began in December 2025 over economic hardship spread across 31 provinces and more than 210 cities.
Authorities employed mass arrests, internet blackouts and violent crackdowns; human rights groups report at least 65 deaths and thousands detained.
The unrest has spread internationally.
Protests erupted in Pakistan, India, Yemen, Iraq, Türkiye and northern Nigeria, with curfews imposed in some cities.
Anti-war rallies in the U.S., including nationwide demonstrations on March 2 and crowds in New York City’s Times Square, denounced military escalation.
Political protests targeting the Trump administration’s policies, such as the March 28 “No Kings” march, reflect domestic tensions alongside global instability.
Elsewhere, regional crises intensify uncertainty.
Russia-NATO tensions, Syria’s resurgent civil war, insurgencies in Cameroon, election delays in South Sudan, gang violence in Ecuador and Haiti and U.S. actions in Venezuela compound security risks.
Greenland, Canada and Mexico face potential geopolitical strain, further complicating the World Cup’s environment.
Security challenges
Participation for some teams is uncertain.
Iran, drawn into Group G with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, faces travel restrictions and unrest that could hinder its involvement.
U.S. bans also affect qualifiers like Ivory Coast, Senegal and Haiti.
Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and others have called for boycotts over U.S. policies, including tariffs, military actions and foreign aid cuts.
Security experts warn of “catastrophic” risks for the 11 host cities, prompting FIFA to consider enhanced measures, venue adjustments and contingency plans.
FIFA maintains that relocation is unlikely, emphasizing preparations to stage a safe, successful tournament.
Yet the organization confronts a rare test: balancing commercial success, fan accessibility and global security amid one of the most unstable international backdrops in recent history.
The Houston Rockets overcame a late surge by the Washington Wizards to claim a 123-118 victory Monday night at Capital One Arena, fueled by standout performances from Alperen Şengün and Kevin Durant.
Şengün poured in 32 points with 13 rebounds, while Durant added 30 points, seven assists, six boards, and a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line in a rare appearance near his Maryland home this season.
Houston established control early, capitalizing on Washington’s inside struggles.
The Wizards hit 12 of 19 three-pointers in the first half but managed just 6 of 28 on two-point attempts, giving the Rockets a 60-51 halftime lead.
Amen Thompson and Durant fueled a decisive third-quarter run, expanding the lead to 18.
Though Washington rallied with a 38-point fourth quarter, including big contributions from Bilal Coulibaly (23 points) and Sharife Cooper (21), Houston held on, sealing the win with clutch free throws and Şengün’s finishing inside.
Rising stars shone alongside Houston’s veterans.
Thompson contributed 22 points and 12 rebounds, showcasing the athleticism that makes him one of the league’s top young forwards.
Rookie Reed Sheppard recorded his first career double-double with 19 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds, and six steals, tying a Rockets rookie record for steals in a game since James Harden.
Şengün’s versatile scoring, 13 of 20 from the field, including crafty post moves, and rebounding anchored Houston’s interior presence and control of the glass.
For the Wizards, injuries and roster transitions remain central.
Trae Young, expected to debut Thursday against Utah after limited action with Atlanta due to knee and quadriceps injuries, was ejected in the third quarter after leaving the bench during a scuffle between Houston’s Tari Eason and Washington’s Jamir Watkins.
Washington coach Brian Keefe had anticipated Young’s near-term return, but the ejection highlighted ongoing integration challenges for the All-Star guard.
Other Wizards contributions included Coulibaly’s efficient scoring and Cooper’s dynamic playmaking off the bench.
Rookie center Julian Reese, brother of WNBA star Angel Reese, made his NBA debut, starting and logging 28 minutes despite fouling out with two points.
Houston shot 48% from the field, 35% from three, and dominated inside the paint 64-48.
Turnovers and free throws played a critical role: Washington committed 18 miscues, leading to 24 points for Houston, while the Rockets went 28-of-32 from the line.
Looking ahead, Houston hosts the Golden State Warriors Thursday, aiming to continue their push in the Western Conference standings. The Wizards visit Orlando Tuesday, trying to integrate Young and build momentum for the remainder of a season focused on youth development.
Fenerbahçe head to Gaziantep Stadium Wednesday to face Gaziantep FK in the fourth matchday of Group C in the Ziraat Turkish Cup, aiming to bounce back from a challenging run in the Süper Lig and refocus on domestic silverware.
Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. local time.
The Yellow Canaries have struggled in recent league action, drawing 1-1 at home to Kasımpaşa on Feb. 23 and 2-2 at Antalyaspor on March 1, dropping points that leave them second in the standings with 54 points from 15 wins and nine draws.
Their European campaign also ended abruptly, with a 4-3 aggregate defeat to Nottingham Forest in the UEFA Europa League playoff round, despite a 2-1 away win in the second leg on Feb. 26.
In the Turkish Cup, Fenerbahçe stumbled in their opener against arch-rivals Beşiktaş, losing 2-1 at home, but followed with wins over Beyoğlu Yeni Çarşı Spor (3-1) and Erzurumspor FK (1-0), placing them third in Group C with six points and a plus-two goal difference.
With only the top two in the five-team group guaranteed knockout spots, a win against Gaziantep FK is vital to secure advancement.
Gaziantep FK has proven a tough opponent at home, beating Kocaelispor 4-1 and Rizespor 3-2 while narrowly losing 1-0 to Beşiktaş.
Fenerbahçe has historically dominated the fixture, winning eight of the last ten meetings, including a 2-0 league victory at home on November 23, 2025, but the host’s home form combined with Fenerbahçe’s recent inconsistencies sets up a competitive showdown.
Adding to Fenerbahçe’s challenges is a growing injury list.
Key absentees include defenders Milan Skriniar and Çağlar Söyüncü, midfield anchor Edson Alvarez, creative midfielder Anderson Talisca, and right-back Nelson Semedo, who was recently involved in a car accident.
Backup options such as Jayden Oosterwolde, Mert Müldür, and Tarık Çetin could be called upon, while forwards Kerem Aktürkoğlu and Marco Asensio will be asked to lead the attack.
Head coach Domenico Tedesco, who guided Fenerbahçe to an unbeaten league start until the recent draws, will lean on squad depth and tactical flexibility to navigate the injury-hit lineup.
A win in Gaziantep would not only keep their cup ambitions alive but also provide momentum heading into their Süper Lig clash with Adana Demirspor on March 8.
Fenerbahçe supporters, known for their passionate backing and a fan base exceeding 50,000 official members, will hope for a decisive performance to reignite the team’s winning rhythm.
Beşiktaş lead Group C with seven points and a plus-four goal difference, followed by Gaziantep FK with six points and a plus-two goal difference, while Fenerbahçe sit third with six points and the same goal difference.
Rizespor and Kocaelispor trail the group, leaving Fenerbahçe with little margin for error in a must-win encounter.
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