Cenk Tosun

Turkey's national football team has carried its hopes of claiming a berth in the next year's World Cup to the last two qualification games by beating Croatia 1-0 at home on Sept. 5.

Defending champion Beşiktaş made a winning start to the new Spor Toto Super League season by beating Antalyaspor 2-0, while city rival Fenerbahçe was held to a 2-2 draw at newcomer Göztepe over the weekend.

Another newcomer, Malatyaspor, made its debut on the top flight with a 3-1 victory over Osmanlıspor on Aug. 13, while Alanyaspor lost 3-1 at home to Kasımpaşa on Aug. 12.

Atiker Konyaspor claimed the Turkish Super Cup after defeating the reigning league champion Beşiktaş 2-1 on Aug. 6.

The match at the Samsun Yeni 19 Mayıs Stadium saw last season's league champion Beşiktaş go against Turkish Cup winner Atiker Konyaspor.

Turkish league leader Beşiktaş visits Olympique Lyon on April 13 for the first leg of their Europe League quarter final tie without injured Portugal international Ricardo Quaresma, while striker Vincent Aboubakar is suspended.

Beşiktaş achieved an epic 4-3 win over Trabzonspor late on April 8, throwing down a gauntlet to its two closest followers, which will clash with each other on April 10. 

The cards in the Turkish Super League could be reshuffled in the crucial upcoming 28th week of games, with leader Beşiktaş visiting Trabzonspor, the best-performing in the second half of the season, and second-placed Başakşehir taking on third-placed Galatasaray.

Turkey defeated Finland 2-0 in the two sides' Group I World Cup Qualification clash on March 24 evening in the southern province of Antalya.

The match in the New Antalya Stadium saw an attacking Turkish dominate in the opening minutes, culminating in Beşiktas's in-form striker Cenk Tosun scoring in the ninth minute.

Turkey's Beşiktaş, which holds the advantage in its bid to qualify for the UEFA Europa League quarterfinals, will take on an improving Kayserispor on March 12 in a bid to maintain the point difference with its closest chaser.

A well-motivated Turkish Spor Toto Super League leader Beşiktaş will take on archrival Fenerbahçe on Feb. 5 in a Ziraat Turkey Cup last 16 stage "do or die" game. 

Beşiktaş, which climbed to the top of the standings on matchday 18, put five goals past a strong Konyaspor on Jan. 30 to maintain a two-point cushion over Medipol Başakşehir.

Turkish national team coach Fatih Terim was left on the hot seat following a 2-0 defeat against a rising Iceland in a 2018 World Cup qualification group match late on Oct. 9 in Reykjavik.

Even some soft-tongued critics, including former Turkish international Rüştü Reçber, have called on Terim to resign.