UEFA CUP TIME FOR THREE TURKISH TEAMS

Besiktas and Galatasaray look to build over their wins, while Kayserispor chases a dream in Paris.

Besiktas visits Metalist Kharkiv for the UEFA Cup first round game Thursday.

After beating Metalist 1-0 in Istanbul two weeks ago, Besiktas holds an apparent advantage before the second leg game, and even a draw will be enough for it to advance to the competition's group stages for a record fourth time.

So, another game to Besiktas' eight-game unbeaten streak and the Black Eagles will fly off to the next round. However, playing at Metalist may be tricky. Besides the not-so-welcomingly cold climate, Metalist is a strong and physical team that does not allow many chances to its opposition.

Besiktas has seen enough of that, as the first leg game could have gone either way, if the only goal of the game was canceled for offside.

Besiktas was not playing its best in that game, but the Ukrainians were not very experienced at that stage and Ertugrul Saglam's side exploited that very well. It needs to do more of the same to advance to the next round.

The game at Metalist Stadium starts 8:00 p.m.

Galatasaray on a goal spree :

Galatasaray's job at the UEFA Cup may be easier, though, as it plays lowly Swiss side Bellinzona in Istanbul, also Thursday.

In an illogically open game, Galatasaray was victor 4-3 in Switzerland, leaving little work to do at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium. Now even a loss like 1-0 will see Galatasaray through to the next round, and it seems that Galatasaray will not lose much sweat over beating Bellinzona again.

The Swiss side is struggling in its league currently, and has only one win in nine games, while Galatasaray is on an astounding goal spree with 12 goals in three games. Its foreign players are the major reason for that attacking football shining, as Milan Baros took the lead with six goals.

The Czech player is successfully rehabilitating his career, especially remembering that he had nine goals in his 56 games in the last two years.

Thursday night he will try to add to his goal tally against a side that is not successful at defending. The game starts at 8:00 p.m.

Of all the four Turkish teams vying for further rounds on the European stage, Kayserispor probably has the most difficult task to do.

Losing the first leg game 2-1 to Paris St. Germain at its own ground, the Turkish Cup holder's chase for the next round is likely to be a chase for the rainbows.

Kayseri is known for its solid defensive play and may finish the game in France with a clean sheet, but this time conceding no goals will not be enough, it needs to score as well.

Tolunay Kafkas' side is a terrible attacking team and is yet to score two goals in a match this season.

In fact, Kayserispor has two goals in five league games, and if it wants to stay a part of the European competition, it needs at least two on Thursday.

However, the fact that Paris St. Germain is a vulnerable team may be promising. The Parisians have lost two games in a row, and Kayserispor looks to take the streak to three.

The game at the Parc des Princes starts at 10:00 p.m.Local Time.

Reuters& ESPN :Turks blunted by Kiev

Fenerbahce and Dynamo Kiev played out a lacklustre 0-0 draw in the Champions League on Tuesday, leaving both teams with much to do to get their Group G campaigns going.

Fenerbahce playmaker Alex worked to create chances up front with Daniel Guiza but the home side gave the ball away easily and Dynamo comfortably absorbed the pressure.

The result piled fresh pressure on Fenerbahce's Spanish coach Luis Aragones. Last season's Champions League quarter-finalists are 10th in the domestic league.

"Fenerbahce created some scoring opportunities on the pitch today. We were definitely the better team and deserved to win," Aragones told Turkish television after the game.

"We were in control of the game while they played on the counter attack. What is important now is that we beat Arsenal," the former Spain coach said of his side's next test at home to the group leaders on Oct. 21.

Fenerbahce, losers at Porto in their opening match, burst into life after halftime when Alex fired a shot just wide from the edge of the box in the 48th minute.

A minute later Dynamo keeper Stanislav Bogush saved efforts from Guiza and Emre Belozoglu, who worked hard in midfield for the home side.

Fenerbahce pressed hard for a goal in the final stages. Selcuk Sahin fired straight at the goalkeeper from the edge of the penalty area and Kazim Kazim shot wide with a long-range effort.

But the Ukrainian side, who drew with Arsenal in their opening match, held firm in defence to remain third, a point ahead of the Turks and one behind the Portuguese champions.

"Today we played a good game and succeeded in securing a point," Kiev coach Yuri Semin said.

"Fenerbahce played very well. But our players created problems for them and were very successful in defence.".

ARAGONES: FENERBAHCE WILL BOUNCE BACK!......

Fenerbahce coach Luis Aragones is not worried that his side's poor league form will affect their Champions League hopes.

The Istanbul side host Dynamo Kiev in Group G on Tuesday night and will be hoping to continue their impressive home record in Europe and kick-start a season which has so far been very disappointing.

Having made the worst start to a campaign in 20 years, Fenerbahce are eighth in the table and suffered a further setback on Friday when they lost 2-1 to Sivasspor.

However, Aragones is not concerned and has every faith his team will improve.

"I don't think losing points in Turkey will affect my players as I believe the Champions League is a completely different motivation," he said.

"Despite taking the lead in the first half, we were not able to stop Sivasspor from scoring twice. Of course, this was not the impressive start we had wanted. We still need time to perform at our best, but our time will come."

The Turks boast a fearful record at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, having won every match there in last season's Champions League en route to their quarter-final exit at the hands of Chelsea, and are unbeaten in 14 games stretching back to November 2004.

They come up against a Dynamo side with a wretched record.

Yuri Semin's men have drawn one and lost seven of their last eight group-stage games, scoring two goals and conceding 18, although they held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw in the opening fixture earlier this month and go into the game off the back of a 3-0 defeat of Kryvbas which sent them joint top of the Ukrainian Superliga.

Fenerbahce have been reduced to the bare bones by injuries and woefully underperformed in their last Champions League fixture, a 3-1 defeat to Porto, to prop up the Group G table.

Star striker Semih Senturk remains a major doubt, as do newcomer Juan Pablo Josico, winger Gokcek Vederson and defender Edu Dracena.

Captain Alex De Souza, the heartbeat of the Fener team, is also on the injury list, but forward Daniel Guiza has a chance of recovering in time to make the bench on Tuesday.

Dynamo coach SemiH is likely to stick with the same players who impressed at home against Arsenal two weeks ago.

He said after that game: "If I was told before the game that we would have a draw, I would have been very pleased.

"This is a good start in the Champions League and the team did well, so overall I am satisfied."

Midfielder Roman Eremenko was particularly impressive, as was Ismael Bangoura, who caused the Gunners defence problems all night and scored the opener from the penalty spot.

Playmaker Oleksandr Aliyev was also heavily influential and scored twice in Friday's resounding league win.

TURKCELL SUPER LEAGUE SATURDAY WRAP......WEEK: 5:

TRABZONSPOR BACK ON TOP AND BESIKTAS STALL!.......

What a Saturday!....Turkcell Super League and it's fans saw, three team names, sitting in the first place, within one day!...

Sivasspor after winning against Fenerbahce on Friday, Captured the top spot from Besiktas . Today, on Saturday, Bursaspor after beating Kocaelispor in away match and while Trabzonspor just getting ready to play Antalyaspor in Trabzon , captured the leagues top spot at least for a couple hours!...

Just when, Bursaspor fans thought that they were going to closed the fifth week in the Turkcell Super League on top, Trabzonspor scored the winning and the third goal against Antalyaspor in the last minutes of the match!..

So, Trabzonspor captured the leagues top spot again!....and they will close the week on top of the Turkcell Super League too, Because , all the top contender already played their matches this weekend.

İstanbul BB 1 - 1 Besiktas
Trabzonspor 3- 2 Antalyaspor
KOCAELISPSOR 2-3 BURSASPOR
Genclerbirligi 1-1 Ankaraspor

WATCH ISTANBUL B.B V BESIKTAS HIGHLIGHTS.......

SIVASSPOR BEAT FENERBAHCE!...

WATCH SIVASSPOR V FENERBAHCE HIGHLIGHTS BY CLICKING HERE

Turkey's Turkcell Super League, round five, opened with a shocking score!..

Aragones's Fenerbahce team, was worry going to Sivas with a lot of Injuries...

Although They scored first , Sivasspor came back to bite them, in the last fifteen minutes of the match.

On the 34Th minute, Fenerbahce, went ahead with Selcuk Sahin's goal.

Fenerbahce had many opportunities after the goal but, they could not score!..

Play makers from Sivasspor,like, Mehmet Yilmaz, and Balili who came in to the match in the second half made a big difference in the second half of the match.

And In the last fifteen minutes of the match, Sivaspor scored two goals and won the match 2-1, at their own soil, for the first time ever against giant Fenerbahce team.

Sivasspor goals scored by Murat Soylemez(77th minute) and Sezer Bodur in the 88th minute of the match.

There is a saying in Turkish.... it goes like this..."ATAMAYANA ATARLAR"

"IF YOU CAN'T SCORE ,THEY WILL"

This is exactly what happened to Fenerbahce in Sivasspor....
They have missed so many opportunities in this match!...

Things are not looking good for Aragones's Fenerbahce in the Turkcell Super League!.

In five games, they have only six points...and they won only two matches......

Aragones might be a good coach but, His work is cutout in this Turkish League!.

After Beating Fenerbahce, Sivasspor, captured the top spot, in the Turkish Turkcell League, with 11 points for at least a day until tomorrow!..

This loss, will shake some things, at Fenerbahce side this weekend before the CL match in Istanbul.

Here is the fixture for Saturday and Sunday in the League....

SATURDAY
Istanbul BB - Besiktas
Gençlerbirliği - Ankaraspor
Kocaelispor - Bursaspor
Trabzonspor - Antalyaspor
SUNDAY
Gaziantepspor - Denizlispor
Hacettepe - MKE Ankaragücü
Kayseri - Eskişehirspor
Galatasaray - Konyaspor


AHMET TURGUT/TURKISHSOCCER.COM

NO MORE "UEFA CUP" IT WILL BE EUROPA LEAGUE

The UEFA Executive Committee has approved the change of name for the UEFA Cup to the UEFA Europa League from 2009/10.

The new name heralds major changes to the competition, which will have a new 48-team group stage with centralised marketing of broadcast rights, a presenting sponsor and an official matchball in addition to centralised sponsorship from the knockout stage and a new logo and visual identity. UEFA President Michel Platini said: "These changes will improve this historic competition, which is very important for UEFA and for European football as it gives more fans, players and clubs the thrill of European club football. I am convinced the new format will give the UEFA Europa League a successful new impetus."

The changes to the name, logo and brand identity of the competition are the next logical step following the decision to alter the format of the UEFA Cup and create a true group stage, with both home and away matches. That decision was taken by the UEFA Executive Committee in Lucerne, Switzerland, back in December 2007. The change of name better represents the format of the competition and with the enhancements to the logo and brand, the changes are such that from the 2009/10 season the UEFA Cup will effectively become a new competition.

The new name and logo will help underline the tournament's special character and unique sporting appeal. The fresh format will encourage teams from emerging countries or lesser-known sides to challenge the old order, and the new identity will seek to reflect that. UEFA's ambition in making all these changes is to rejuvenate the competition in the light of the new European football landscape, which has shifted significantly with the continued success of the UEFA Champions League, so that the UEFA Europa League can establish itself as a major competition.

"First and foremost, [the decision] is about timing," UEFA General Secretary David Taylor told uefa.com. "We've got a new competition and a new format for 2009-12, with centralisation of the group stage and with the group stage being much more similar to the UEFA Champions League format – whereby teams will play home and away. We have an opportunity to change the marketing [of the competition].

Source: UEFA

TUGAY MIGHT BE OLD, BUT HE IS STILL GOOD!..

Blackburn manager Paul Ince may be intent on taking the club to the next level with new ideas but he still has time for some wise old heads.

Tugay, 38, and Robbie Fowler, 33, had much to do with the 1-0 victory against Everton in the Carling Cup.

Martin Olsson's 10th-minute goal was enough to secure a place in the fourth-round draw, which takes place on Saturday.

Olsson was set up by Fowler, who decided to quit Cardiff and try his luck again in the top flight.

While the former Liverpool striker showed some nice touches and good vision on his debut, it was Tugay's classy performance which tilted the game in Blackburn's favour.

Disappointed Everton manager David Moyes admitted as much - and Ince lauded the veteran Turkish playmaker.

The Blackburn boss explained: "Tugay may be the grandad of our side but he is still a fantastic player.

"You never lose that passing ability and his brings composure to the team. The older you get you want to play every day and Tugay is no different.

"He still has the enthusiasm of 10 years ago but we have to be careful with him. It is horses for courses."

Ince is beginning to make his mark at the club after succeeding Mark Hughes in the summer, when the Welshman departed for Manchester City.

The former England midfielder was promoted to the Premier League after turning around the fortunes of League Two sides Macclesfield and then MK Dons.

Blackburn have stopped shipping goals and will face troubled Newcastle on Saturday in good heart after two victories in four days.

Ince said: "I do not get carried away with victories, defeats or draws.

"We conceded too many goals in a couple of games but we put matters right on the training ground and that was pleasing.

"We are trying to build something here and we showed against Everton there is spirit not just among the team but among the squad as well."

Midfielder Keith Andrews will come into contention for the Newcastle match - he was ineligible for the Carling Cup tie.

The Blackburn boss, speaking to Sky Sports News said - 'The two old men were different class. Robbie was champing at the bit and keen to prove a point, I played him in a slightly deeper role and he did ever so well. He never lost a ball and had a couple of chances. He made a difference and showed a lot of lovely touches. He is a natural goalscorer and you do not lose it. The signs are good." 'Tugay may be the grandad of our side but he is still a fantastic player.

'You never lose that passing ability and his brings composure to the team. The older you get you want to play every day and Tugay is no different.


Source:Wires