What happened in Turkish football today? 02/08/2023

Galatasaray had tough time against Zalgiris.

Galatasaray has reached to 3rd qualifying round during Champions League game against Zalgiris as it got 1:0 win and also 3:2 aggregate scoreline making this tie to be much more tough for Istanbul giant than expected.

It needs to be incredible and great goal from Dries Mertens has been decider in this game as Zalgiris did provide an organised wall on its goal with 10 men which did prevent Galatasaray to get full chances. It needs to be mentioned that Galatasaray did come out with a mind to win game as it did get high number of the chances but still it did have issues with converting them which could provide signs that team is not 100% ready yet even through absence of Mauro Icardi who only arrived to Istanbul few days ago has also affected outcome of the game and let side to win game with goal from Mertens. Still, it needs to be mentioned that this game and performance does make it clear that it needs to improve its performance prior to games against Olimpija Ljubjana if it doesnt want to have similar stressful moments.

Zalgiris meanwhile needs to be mentioned did provide pretty strong and organised performance on the field and looked to be organised side at defence but did try to use some chances including 2 dangerous chances and did provide some positive view of the team.

Galatasaray did get to 3rd qualifying round in more difficult manner than expected and this 2 legs did show that team needs to improve in short period of time.

Fenerbahce got to 3rd qualifying round without much issues.

Fenerbahce both got a confident 2nd leg game and also generally at the tie as it got through 3rd qualifying round with both 4:0 and 9:0 scoreline successfully without letting Zimbru to get into control of the game.

It needs to be mentioned that expectation from Fenerbahce in this tie has been arleady similar to this and even through some might not accept for side to score as much as 9 goals, it was expected for team to get such confident scoreline so it should be seen as successful results. Even through this 2 legs should not be taken into consideration much, it still could be stated that team has shown high concentration area which Fenerbahce sometimes did lack and hence this results does show that team would be more focussed and this would help side to win title.

Fenerbahce did get through without much problems and now would be waiting for its opponent as Dudelange and Maribor will meet on 3rd August with 1st leg game ended with goalless draw.

KF Tirana could provide some tough moments to Besiktas.

Besiktas would be playing an away game against KF Tirana after getting 3:1 win which even through is being good advantage scoreline, is still didnt secure its ticket to 3rd qualifying round and keeps Albanian side some chances for getting through.

Even through is being much quality side with better players to all respect to KF Tirana and has names which can get result when it needed as been seen during 1st leg, it needs to be stated that Tirana did show that its not side team which would easily give up to game emotionally and hence side would give its all and aim to get surprising result and at worst for them to show that they did fight for. Therefore, Besiktas would need to stay focussed and an early goal could do trick to get outcome which it seeking for.

Besiktas hence could have potentially some tough moments but still being side to get win without much doubt.

Results:

UEFA Champions League, 2nd qualifying round, 2nd leg:

Galatasaray 1:0 Zalgiris (agg: 3:2)

Schedule:

UEFA Conference League, 2nd qualifying round, 2nd leg:

19:45 Zalaegerszegi -Osijek(agg: 0:1) (winner of this tie would be playing against winner of Adana Demirspor-CFR Cluj(agg: 1:1) at Conference League 3rd qualifying round

20:00 Neftci Baku-Zeljeznicar (agg: 2:2) (winner of this tie will be playing winner of Besiktas-KF Tirana(agg: 3:1) at Conference League 3rd qualifying round)

21:00 Adana Demirspor - CFR Cluj(agg: 1:1)

21:00 KF Tirana - Besiktas(agg: 1:3)

21:00 Maribor-Differdange(agg: 1:1)(winner of this tie will be playing against Fenerbahce during 3rd qualifying round)

In other news:

- Pendikspor and Antalyaspor has drawn with 1:1 scoreline during pre-season friendly game.

- Kasimpasa has won pre-season friendly game against Gaziantep with 4:2 scoreline.

- Fenerbahce has transfer Mert Muldur for 4-years.

- Besiktas has terminated contract with its assistant coach Eren Safak.

- TFF has made partnership deal with RTUK.

-Fenerbahce has extended contract with its player Miha Zajc for 3-years.

- Rizespor are close to transfer Nasaf Qarshi player Khusniddin Alikulov.

- Fenerbahce player Emre Mor will not play for 3-weeks due of injury.

-Besiktas are interested to transfer Ajax player Berghuis

- Samsunspor has made transfer deal with Galatasaray player Emre Kilinc.

- Burnley are interested to transfer Galatasaray player Sacha Boey.

- Trabzonspor are interested to transfer Bahia player Vitor Hugo.

- Fenerbahce are interested to transfer Atletico Madrid player Yannick Carrasco.

- RealMadrid player Arda Guler expects to recover from injury after 2 months.

- Galatasaray has signed its academy player Caner Dogan for 2-years.

-  Trabzonspor has offered 1.5 million euro to Olympiakos player Georgios Masouras.

- Besiktas and Fenerbahce are interested to transfer Nicolas Pepe

- Besiktas are interested to transfer AC Milan player Caldara.

- FatihKaragumruk has made transfer deal with Ispartaspor player Furkan Beklevic for 3-years.

-Istanbulspor are interested to transfer Alassane Ndao.

- WestHamUnited has offered Gianlucca Scamacca to Atalanta in return of Merih Demiral.

- Pendikspor has made transfer deal with Ibrahim Akdag.

- Colombus Crew has transferred Fenerbahce player Diego Rossi for 5.6 million dollars+1million dollars bonus and 15% share from next transfer