In the C Group’s opening match of the Ziraat Türkiye Kupası, Fenerbahçe hosted their city rivals Beşiktaş at Chobani Stadium, with head coach Domenico Tedesco making four changes to his starting lineup compared to their previous encounter against Eyüpspor. The adjustments were necessary due to special permissions allowing Jhon Duran and Ederson to miss the match, Fred serving a suspension, and Talisca also missing due to disciplinary reasons.
Tedesco’s revised starting eleven featured Tarık Çetin in goal, backed by defenders Mert Müldür, Milan Skriniar, Jayden Oosterwolde, and Levent Mercan. In midfield, Bartuğ Elmaz and İsmail Yüksek played, supported on the wings by Oğuz Aydın and Sebastian Szymanski. Marco Asensio operated just behind striker Kerem Aktürkoğlu, bringing fresh energy to the squad.
Despite the midweek scheduling and the match airing on open channels, Fenerbahçe’s fans turned out in droves, filling the stands to support their team passionately throughout the clash.
The match saw Fenerbahçe missing a total of 13 players. Fred Rodrigues’s suspension along with the absence of Dorgeles Nene and Youssef En-Nesyri, who were with their national teams, significantly impacted the squad depth. Additionally, Ederson and Jhon Duran were granted special permissions, while injuries sidelined Edson Alvarez, Archie Brown, Anderson Talisca, and Nelson Semedo. The team also had Rodrigo Becao, İrfan Can Kahveci, and Cenk Tosun missing due to disciplinary measures, and Mert Hakan was absent because of an ongoing investigation.
In response to the extensive player absence, Tedesco utilized young talent from the club’s youth academy. The substitutes included 18-year-old goalkeeper Engin Can Biterge, 17-year-old defender Kamil Efe Üregen, 18-year-old winger Haydar Karataş, 16-year-old Alaettin Ekici, and 17-year-old midfielder Mustafa Serhan Kök, demonstrating Fenerbahçe’s commitment to nurturing emerging players.
Notably, two players—goalkeeper Tarık Çetin and Bartuğ Elmaz—experienced the thrill of their first-ever Beşiktaş derby, marking an important milestone in their young careers. The atmosphere was charged with excitement as these promising talents got the opportunity to shine on such a grand stage. Fenerbahçe continues to reinforce its legacy while building for the future, showcasing resilience even in challenging circumstances.