Verdict: Goal to be scored in both halves
Best Odds: 5/6
Bookmaker: Luckster
Getting their Europa League qualifying adventure underway on Thursday night, Besiktas will welcome Shakhtar Donetsk to Istanbul.
Besiktas
Starting with the hosts, eventually forced to settle for a fourth-place finish among Turkey’s elite last season, Besiktas are desperate to reestablish themselves as a genuine contender this time around. Now under the guidance of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the former Manchester United boss knows the importance of claiming an essential first-leg advantage when they open up the 2025 campaign here. However, signing off their summer preparations with a disappointing 2-1 loss at home against Slovakian outfit Petrazalka, the Blacks Eagles have struggled to find any real defensive stability. Despite drawing a line under the 2024/25 season with a routine 4-0 romp against Bodrumspor, Solskjaer’s men mustered just a pair of clean sheets from any of their final 14 matchups across all competitions.
Besiktas Team News
Making a permanent switch to Istanbul this summer, former Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham should make his Besiktas debut on Thursday night. However, expected to complete a move away from Turkey before the 2025/26 campaign, Alex Oxlande-Chamberlain will not play any part here.
Although 18-year-old Mustafa Hekimoglu might have dealt with a knock last week, academy graduate is expected to be part of Solskjaer’s squad here. One-time Arsenal star Gabriel Paulista will start at the heart of Besiktas’ defence.
Shakhtar Donetsk
As for the visitors, relinquishing their domestic crown last season as they had to settle for a bronze medal finish among Ukraine’s elite, Shakhtar find themselves in a similar position to Thursday’s opponents. Nevertheless, extending on their Europa League qualifying adventure last week as they claimed a routine 6-0 aggregate win giants Finnish outfit Ilves, Arda Turan’s men are more than capable of asking some serious questions on foreign soil. Despite failing to muster consecutive victories across any competition since the middle of April, Shakhtar will also be excited by their largely rugged success outside of Donetsk. In fact, the Ukrainian heavyweights have not suffered a single defeat on their travels since a 3-1 Champions League loss away at Borussia Dortmund back on January 29th.
Shakhtar Donetsk Team News
Ahead of their trip to Istanbul on Thursday night, Shakhtar have reported a clean bill of health and have no fresh injury concerns. Left as an unused substitute for their second-leg meeting against Ilves last week, Brazilian starlet Alisson will be handed a full recall.
Linked with a potential Premier League switch this summer and with reports that West Ham are are weighing up a blockbuster move, 22-year-old Georgiy Sudakov will play a leading role here.
Besiktas vs Shakhtar Donetsk Key Factors to Consider
- Thursday’s showdown in Istanbul will be the first competitive meeting between Besiktas and Shakhtar.
- Besiktas managed to muster just two clean sheets from any of their final 14 appearances across all competitions last season.
- Likewise, the Black Eagles have not recorded a single clean sheet in Istanbul since returning from March’s international break.
- Shakhtar have not suffered a single defeat on their travels since a 3-1 Champions League loss away at Borussia Dortmund back on January 29th.
- Continuing on from their summer preparations, six of Besiktas’ last eight outings have finished with both teams finding the net.
Conclusion
Getting their Europa League qualifying adventure underway on Thursday night, Besiktas will be desperate to claim a first-leg advantage on home soil. However, mustering just a pair of clean sheets from any of their final 14 appearances across all competitions last season, Solskjaer’s squad have shown some real defensive struggles. Watching Shakhtar get their own respective European campaign underway with a 6-0 romp against Ilves on July 10th, neutrals will be hoping for another frantic affair here. Likewise, with the Black Eagles failing to muster a single clean sheet in Istanbul since returning from March’s international break, we are backing what could be an enjoyable qualifying contest on Thursday.
Verdict: Goal to be scored in both halves
Best Odds: 5/6
Bookmaker: Luckster
