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Fenerbahce and Besiktas face off today in the Ziraat Türkiye Cup C Group opener at Chobani Stadium, meeting for the 363rd time in a rivalry that stretches back to November 28, 1924. The long history is hard to miss: across more than a century of clashes, Fenerbahce holds a narrow edge in overall results, while cup ties have more often swung in Besiktas’ favour. With Brazilian keeper Ederson absent, the duel in goal has come into sharp focus ahead of kick-off.
The rivalry began with a 4-0 Fenerbahce win on November 28, 1924. Since then the two clubs have traded results in a contest that has seen Fenerbahce collect 136 wins to Besiktas’ 129, with 97 matches ending level.
Fenerbahce have scored 502 goals in the fixture, while Besiktas have netted 461.
When it comes to the Ziraat Türkiye Cup, Besiktas have generally had the upper hand. In the 14 previous cup pairings between the sides, Besiktas progressed nine times and Fenerbahce five.
Overall there have been 22 cup matches: Besiktas won 11, Fenerbahce won five (including two walkovers), and six matches ended in draws. Besiktas have scored 32 cup goals to Fenerbahce’s 26 in these meetings, figures that help explain why the cup tie history reads differently to the clubs’ overall record.
Two cup encounters were settled off the pitch. In the 1982–83 quarter-final tie the first leg finished 1-1, but the result was later registered as a 3-0 win for Fenerbahce after it was determined a suspended Besiktas player had featured despite being banned. Decades later, in the 2017–18 semi-final, a Kadikoy rematch was halted in the 57th minute because of pitch incidents.
The Turkish Football Federation ordered the game to resume from the 57th minute on a later date; Besiktas then declined to take the field and the match was recorded as a 3-0 walkover for Fenerbahce. Those episodes have come to shape the cup narrative between the clubs.
All eyes are on the nets for this derby. Fenerbahce will be without Ederson, who was granted leave by the club for the Christmas period and will miss the match. In his absence the starting spot is expected to fall to Tarik Cetin, who would experience his first derby if picked. Tarik has appeared twice in the league this season and conceded once in those matches. Alternatively, coach Domenico Tedesco could name Irfan Can Egribayat, who has played four derbies for Fenerbahce without tasting victory: His record in those games is three defeats and one draw.
For Besiktas, Ersin Destanoglu remains the established option. Since being given the gloves by coach Sergen Yalcin, Destanoglu has featured six times against Fenerbahce, recording one win, four draws and one loss while conceding seven goals in those fixtures. His experience in recent derbies and the stability he brings will be central to Besiktas’ approach.
The Ziraat Türkiye Cup clash will be overseen by referee Oguzhan Cakir, who will be tasked with managing a high-stakes derby atmosphere at Chobani Stadium.
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