UEFA Europa League kicks off as Besiktas prepares to host Marseille

The 2026-27 UEFA Europa League season will get underway on Wednesday, Sept. 16, with the opening round spread across two days. Besiktas is set to represent Türkiye as the country's only club in the competition.

Besiktas will open its campaign at home against French side Olympique Marseille on Thursday, Sept. 17, with kick-off scheduled for 10:00 p.m. Türkiye time (7:00 p.m. GMT).

The Europa League is UEFA's second-tier club competition, sitting below the Champions League.

Besiktas' Hyeon-gyu Oh (2nd R) plays during the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round second-leg match between Midtjylland and Besiktas at MCH Arena in Herning, Denmark, on July 30, 2026. (AA Photo)

Opening round brings major European clubs together

The first matches will take place on Wednesday, with Milan hosting Benfica among the standout fixtures, while Bayer Leverkusen, Olympiakos and Sunderland will also begin their campaigns.

The opening round will then carry on Thursday, when Juventus takes on NEC Nijmegen, Celtic face Ferencvaros and Real Sociedad host Bournemouth alongside Besiktas' meeting with Marseille.

All kick-off times below are given in Türkiye time, with GMT in parentheses.

Wednesday, Sept. 16:

• 7:45 p.m. (4:45 p.m. GMT): Ararat (Armenia) vs. Sparta Prague (Czechia)
• 7:45 p.m. (4:45 p.m. GMT): Omonia (Cyprus) vs. Celta Vigo (Spain)
• 10:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. GMT): Milan (Italy) vs. Benfica (Portugal)
• 10:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. GMT): Anderlecht (Belgium) vs. Olympique Lyon (France)
• 10:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. GMT): Hapoel Beer-Sheva (Israel) vs. Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)
• 10:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. GMT): Bayer Leverkusen (Germany) vs. Celje (Slovenia)
• 10:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. GMT): Olympiacos (Greece) vs. Jagiellonia (Poland)
• 10:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. GMT): Sturm Graz (Austria) vs. Rennes (France)
• 10:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. GMT): Sunderland (England) vs. AZ Alkmaar (Netherlands)

Thursday, Sept. 17

• 7:45 p.m. (4:45 p.m. GMT): Levski Sofia (Bulgaria) vs. RB Salzburg (Austria)
• 7:45 p.m. (4:45 p.m. GMT): OFI (Greece) vs. Hoffenheim (Germany)
• 10:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. GMT): Celtic (Scotland) vs. Ferencvaros (Hungary)
• 10:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. GMT): Juventus (Italy) vs. NEC Nijmegen (Netherlands)
• 10:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. GMT): Viktoria Plzen (Czechia) vs. Union Saint-Gilloise (Belgium)
• 10:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. GMT): Besiktas (Türkiye) vs. Olympique Marseille (France)
• 10:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. GMT): Lillestrom (Norway) vs. Torreense (Portugal)
• 10:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. GMT): Crystal Palace (England) vs. Lech Poznan (Poland)
• 10:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. GMT): Real Sociedad (Spain) vs. Bournemouth (England)

September 15, 2026 10:42 AM GMT+03:00