Alex Teixeira

A depleted Beşiktaş squad will be in Amsterdam on Sept. 28 when the Turkish champion plays Ajax in a Champions League Group C match.

Beşiktaş, Turkey's sole representer in the European club football's showpiece event, launches its Champions League campaign on Sept. 15 at home against Borussia Dortmund.

Beşiktaş won the Turkish Süper Lig on goal difference last season, and the Istanbul club has started off its title defense with three wins and a draw from its opening four games.

The title race in the Turkish Süper Lig starts on Aug. 13 under the pandemic shadow and a major change in rules on foreign players.

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Defending champion Beşiktaş hosts Rizespor in Istanbul in the Süper Lig's first game, hoping to pick up from where it left off.

Turkish club Fenerbahçe?s star-studded squad will not be playing in the Champions League this season after losing a third qualifying ground tie against Shakthar Donetsk. 

Goals from Dario Srna, Oleksandr Gladkiy and Alex Teixeira gave Shakthar a 3-0 victory at home Aug. 5, in the return game of a goalless draw in Istanbul, booking the Ukrainians a place in the playoff leg.