July 25, 2026 Football Agenda: Galatasaray Fall, Beşiktaş and Başakşehir Take the European Stage
With just days left before the new season, Turkish football saw both pre-season friendlies and European qualifying matches come thick and fast. Here are the standout headlines from the last four days.
Galatasaray's Monza Test Ends in Disappointment
Galatasaray, continuing preparations at their Austria training camp, fell 2-0 to Italian side Monza in a friendly played on Friday evening, July 24. In the match at Raiffeisen Arena, Monza's goals came from Andrea Carboni in the 23rd minute and Patrick Cutrone in the 49th. Speaking afterwards, head coach Okan Buruk noted that around ten players were missing from the squad and hinted that several of those who featured on the day may not be part of the season squad, describing such friendlies as matches that need to be "gotten through with minimal damage." The Istanbul giants are expected to field their internationals in the next friendly.
Beşiktaş Take European Advantage Thanks to Kökçü
Beşiktaş beat Danish side Midtjylland 1-0 at home on Thursday evening, July 23, in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round. Orkun Kökçü scored the only goal of the match in the 26th minute, while the visitors were reduced to 10 men after a red card in the 15th minute. Having opened their European campaign with a win, the Black Eagles now head to the second leg in Denmark on July 30 with the advantage.
Başakşehir Leave the Tie Level Ahead of the Return Leg
RAMS Başakşehir drew 1-1 at home against Finnish side Inter Turku on Wednesday, July 22, in the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round. The visitors' goal came from Clinton Jephta in the 16th minute, while Emin Bayram equalized for the Istanbul side in the 54th minute. Başakşehir will look to advance in the return leg in Finland on July 30.
Fenerbahçe Focused on Zabrze Return Leg as Kartal's European Record Draws Attention
Having beaten Gornik Zabrze 1-0 at home this past Tuesday in the first leg of the Champions League second qualifying round, Fenerbahçe have been training intensively this week ahead of the return leg in Poland on July 29. Sessions under head coach İsmail Kartal at the Can Bartu Facilities have begun with core work indoors before moving to passing drills and small-sided attacking exercises on the pitch. Meanwhile, Kartal's European record with Fenerbahçe has become a talking point: in 19 European matches in charge, he has recorded 13 wins and 6 losses with no draws, a 68.4% win rate that has lifted spirits among fans.
A Quick Note from Europe: Manchester United Score Big in a Friendly
Outside of the Süper Lig, Europe's giant clubs are also deep in pre-season friendlies. Manchester United secured a lift ahead of the new campaign with a convincing 5-0 win away to Rosenborg in Norway on Friday, July 24. Five different players got on the scoresheet for the Red Devils, marking their biggest pre-season win so far this summer.
In short, the last four days brought a packed schedule as tension builds toward the return legs of European qualifiers, with clubs staying in the headlines both on the pitch and through their coaches' comments. Expect the agenda to heat up further in the coming days with return legs and further friendlies.
The agenda may change throughout the day; please follow official announcements.