16 October 2026 Football Agenda | Beşiktaş, Trabzonspor, Galatasaray

The second week of European competition brought mixed fortunes for Turkish football. Two sides celebrated, while Galatasaray left the pitch after a heavy defeat. Here are the day's main storylines.

Beşiktaş win 3-2 at Hoffenheim: two from two in the Europa League

Beşiktaş returned from Hoffenheim with a 3-2 victory in the second week of the UEFA Europa League, making it two wins from two matches in the competition. Before the game, Hoffenheim's management had pointed to Beşiktaş's quality in attack and said they planned an energetic approach. The match produced plenty of goals, and Beşiktaş took all three points from a tough away trip.

Speaking after the game, head coach Vincenzo Italiano said his team deserved the win. He also talked about the target of finishing in the top 8 or top 24 in the Europa League, and stressed that with such a congested calendar everyone in the squad needs to be 100 percent ready.

Kökçü injury: first assessment says "not serious"

The one worrying note of the night was captain Orkun Kökçü. He stayed down holding his foot late in the first half and was replaced by Fabio Miretti at the start of the second half. Italiano said he spoke with his player, that there was minor pain in the foot and discomfort when stepping, so they did not want to take a risk. The coach said he hopes it is not serious and that Kökçü could return soon, but that the club will monitor the situation. An official club statement on the exact diagnosis and return date is awaited.

Trabzonspor open the Conference League with a 4-2 win in Finland

Trabzonspor beat KuPS Kuopio 4-2 away in their first UEFA Conference League match. Paul Onuachu opened the scoring in the 3rd minute and Salah made it 2-0 in the 44th. Franculino Dju then scored in the 47th and 90+1 minutes. KuPS replied through Petteri Pennanen and, in the 90+6th minute, Gustav Engvall.

A key moment came in the 58th minute, when goalkeeper André Onana saved a penalty from Parzyszek, dampening the hosts' hopes of a comeback. Reports said it was Trabzonspor's first win in European competition in 805 days. It was also noted that Salah, with a goal and an assist, became the third player to score and assist in all three of the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.

Injury concern over Onuachu

The one downside for Trabzonspor was Onuachu, who was injured after scoring. Head coach Thomas Reis spoke after the match, but there is no clear information on the nature or length of the injury. Ahead of the league meeting with Beşiktaş, the striker's condition is one of the biggest question marks for the Black Sea side. A statement is expected after medical checks.

Galatasaray fall apart after the break against Barcelona

In the second week of the Champions League, Galatasaray lost 4-1 at home to Barcelona. The hosts went ahead through Aleksey Batrakov in the 27th minute and the first half ended 1-1. Barcelona started the second half strongly, and goals from Anthony Gordon in the 53rd minute and Karim Adeyemi in the 65th made it 3-1; the match slipped away in that spell.

Head coach Okan Buruk said his side played well in some phases and badly in others. He said they conceded two goals very early after the restart and that the match was lost after 3-1, adding that Barcelona's confidence rose while his team's dropped. Buruk did not criticise his players and also stressed how strong the opposition is. The result leaves Galatasaray with a tough picture in the Champions League table, with the next major test coming in the league in the weeks ahead.

The bigger picture

The wins for Beşiktaş and Trabzonspor lift Turkish football's European record, while Galatasaray's defeat sends a mixed message ahead of a busy league schedule. The fitness of Kökçü and Onuachu will be among the most closely watched topics in the coming days.

The agenda may change during the day; please follow official announcements.