August 25, 2026 Football Agenda: Süper Lig and European Cup News

Turkish football continues to buzz with developments both on the domestic table and in European competition this week. With the second round of the Süper Lig now complete, attention has shifted to the crucial midweek European return legs. Here are the headlines that shaped the football agenda between August 22 and 25.

Süper Lig Round Two Wraps Up: A First in Thirteen Years at the Top

The second round of the Trendyol Süper Lig has concluded, and there's an unexpected name at the summit: Gençlerbirliği. The Ankara side beat host Göztepe 1-0 away thanks to Sekou Koita's 51st-minute strike. Notably, Göztepe missed a penalty in the same match, with Malcom Bokele failing to convert. The result lifted Gençlerbirliği to 6 points and marked the first time since the 2012-2013 season that the club has topped the table after the opening two rounds.

Elsewhere, the big clubs delivered convincing wins: Galatasaray thrashed Erzurumspor FK 4-0 away, while Fenerbahçe beat Konyaspor 4-2 at home. Trabzonspor edged past İstanbul Başakşehir 2-1, while Beşiktaş suffered a 1-0 defeat away at Alanyaspor. In the week's closing fixture, Kocaelispor beat Amedspor 2-0 at home.

Fenerbahçe's Injury Concerns: A Countdown for Kerem and Asensio

The agenda at Fenerbahçe isn't limited to results on the pitch. Sporting director Oğuz Çetin issued a detailed statement on the fitness of national team winger Kerem Aktürkoğlu and Spanish star Marco Asensio. Kerem's recovery is expected to take at least 10 days, with the club hopeful he'll be available for the Lyon and Samsunspor fixtures barring setbacks. The picture is more cautious for Asensio, whose MRI scan revealed strain and tension in his upper left leg muscle. The club says it will closely monitor the return timeline for both players.

Champions League Play-off Return Leg: Fenerbahçe Chase Qualification Away at Lyon

One of the most pivotal European fixtures of the week awaits Fenerbahçe. The Istanbul side drew 1-1 with Olympique Lyon in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League play-off round, keeping the tie wide open heading into the return match. The second leg will be played on Wednesday, August 26, at the Groupama Stadium in France, kicking off at 22:00 Turkish time. Italian referee Maurizio Mariani has been appointed by UEFA to take charge. Following the draw in the opening fixture, Fenerbahçe supporters will be hoping for a strong away performance to secure a spot in the league phase.

Beşiktaş Head Into Zalgiris Return Leg With a 3-0 Cushion

The European picture looks bright for Beşiktaş as well. The Black Eagles thrashed Lithuanian side Kauno Zalgiris 3-0 at home in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League play-off round, giving them a comfortable advantage ahead of the second leg. It has now been confirmed that the return fixture in Kaunas will kick off at 20:00 Turkish time on Thursday, August 27. Buoyed by the three-goal cushion, Beşiktaş are preparing for the trip to Lithuania, with a positive result set to send the club directly into the Europa League's league phase.

As the week continues, both preparations for the third round of the Süper Lig and the European return legs will remain at the center of the agenda, with fans now turning their attention to results from Lyon and Kaunas.

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