September 15, 2026 Football Roundup: Kartal Crisis, Galatasaray's Rise to the Top and Leeds' Storm
As matchweek 5 of the Trendyol Süper Lig wrapped up, a series of dramatic developments shook the football agenda over the weekend. From a shock resignation crisis at Fenerbahçe to Galatasaray reclaiming top spot, from Trabzonspor's search for a new coach to a goal-fest in the Premier League, there's plenty to unpack from September 12-15.
Fenerbahçe's Kartal Crisis and Continued Points Drop
The most dramatic story of the week came from the yellow-and-navy blue camp. Following a 1-1 draw with Roma in the Champions League, head coach İsmail Kartal announced his resignation, declaring "I've resigned, there's no coming back." However, after a crucial meeting with club president Aziz Yıldırım — who responded with "As long as I'm president, İsmail Kartal will stay in charge" — Kartal withdrew his resignation. He immediately headed to the Samandıra training facility that same night to prepare for the upcoming clash with Gaziantep FK. On the pitch, though, little changed: Fenerbahçe were held to a 0-0 draw away at Gaziantep FK, extending their winless run to two matches and finishing the week in 11th place with just 7 points. While the crisis appears to have been contained for now, unease within the fanbase persists.
Galatasaray Beat Kocaelispor to Retake Top Spot
Galatasaray edged past hosts... rather, hosted Kocaelispor at home and won 1-0 thanks to Abdülkerim Bardakcı's 71st-minute strike. The victory lifted the yellow-and-reds to 13 points, allowing them to reclaim the league lead from Beşiktaş. Kocaelispor remain on 9 points. Attention at Galatasaray has already turned to the September 19 derby against Trabzonspor.
Beşiktaş Cruise Past Erzurumspor to Sit Second
The Black Eagles enjoyed a comfortable evening at home, beating Erzurumspor FK 3-0 with goals from Emirhan Topçu, Trossard and İlhan Fakılı. The win pushed Beşiktaş to 12 points and second place in the table. With just a single point separating them from league leaders Galatasaray, the title race looks set to heat up in the coming weeks.
Trabzonspor Struggles Continue, Şenol Güneş Approach Emerges
It was far from a positive week for Trabzonspor. The Black Sea side fell 1-0 away to Konyaspor, conceding as early as the 2nd minute, and failed to pick up a win in their third away fixture of the season. In the aftermath, reports suggest the club's management has accelerated its search for a new head coach, with experienced manager Şenol Güneş — who has previously led the club on five separate occasions — emerging as the leading candidate, with a deal reportedly close to being finalized. The club is said to be aiming to bring in a new coach before the September 19 derby against Galatasaray.
Premier League Storm: Leeds Thrash Newcastle
Europe's top leagues also delivered plenty of drama. At Elland Road, Leeds United demolished visiting Newcastle United 4-1. Leeds struck twice inside two first-half minutes — an own goal from Lewis Miley followed by a Jayden Bogle finish — before Dominic Calvert-Lewin added a third to seal a commanding first-half lead. Noah Okafor extended the advantage to 4-0 in the second half, and although substitute Bazoumana Touré grabbed a late consolation for Newcastle, it did little to dampen Leeds' momentum. The result kept Leeds unbeaten in the league and lifted them into third place in the table.
As the week draws to a close, the football world remains as lively as ever both domestically and across Europe. With the title race in the Süper Lig heating up, all eyes are now on next week's fixtures — especially the highly anticipated Trabzonspor-Galatasaray derby.
Today's agenda may change throughout the day; please follow official announcements.