Turkish clubs learn potential playoff opponents in UEFA competitions

Turkish giants Fenerbahce, Besiktas and RAMS Basaksehir have learned their potential opponents in the UEFA Champions League and Conference League playoff rounds, following Friday’s draw at UEFA headquarters in Nyon on Monday.

Fenerbahce could face Nice or Benfica

Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce are set to meet Feyenoord, coached by former Yellow Canaries striker Robin van Persie, in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round. Should they advance, they will face the winner of Nice (France) vs Benfica (Portugal) in the playoff round, with a spot in the group stage at stake.

Fenerbahces Irfan Can Kahveci celebrates after his score against Lille with the famous shooting pose of Turkish Olympic silver medalist shooter Yusuf Dikec during UEFA Champions League 3rd qualifying match, France, August 6, 2024. (AA Photo)

Playoff first legs will be played on Aug. 19-20, with return legs on Aug. 26-27.

Other Champions League playoff ties include:

• Fenerbahce or Feyenoord vs Nice or Benfica
• Rangers or Viktoria Plzen vs Salzburg or Club Brugge
• Ludogorets or Ferencvaros vs Shkendija or Qarabag
• Lech Poznan or Crvena Zvezda vs Dynamo Kyiv or Pafos
• Bodo Glimt vs Sturm Graz
• Celtic vs Almaty or Slovan Bratislava
• Basel vs Malmo or Kobenhavn

Players of Besiktas react after losing a goal during the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round first leg match between Besiktas and Shakhtar Donetsk at Tupras Stadium in Istanbul, Türkiye, on July 24, 2025. (AA Photo)

Besiktas to face winner of Astana vs Lausanne

After crashing out of the Europa League against Shakhtar Donetsk, coached by Arda Turan, Besiktas now look to regroup in the UEFA Conference League. Managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the Black Eagles will meet St. Patrick's Athletic (Ireland) in the third qualifying round.

If they progress, Besiktas will face the winner of Astana (Kazakhstan) vs Lausanne (Switzerland) in the playoff round. The first leg will be played away on Aug. 21, with the return leg in Istanbul on Aug. 28.

Referee Balazs Berke (2nd R) shows a red card to Aaron Bolge (4th L) of St. Patrick's Athletic during the UEFA Conference League play-off second leg match between RAMS Basaksehir and St. Patrick's Athletic at Fatih Terim Stadium in Istanbul, Türkiye on August 28, 2024. (AA Photo)

RAMS Basaksehir await Viking challenge

RAMS Basaksehir, under coach Cagdas Atan, reached the Conference League third qualifying round by defeating Cherno More (Bulgaria) 1-0 and 4-0. They now face Viking (Norway) for a place in the play-offs.

If successful, the Istanbul club will take on the winner of Universitatea Craiova (Romania) vs Spartak Trnava (Slovakia). The first leg will be played at home on Aug. 21, and the second away on Aug. 28.

August 04, 2025 04:27 PM GMT+03:00