The stakes are high in this match, as both Besiktas and Athletic Bilbao have strong chances to advance further in the Europa League. The hosts are just one point shy of a top-24 spot in the league phase, while the visitors from Spain currently sit in second place. A victory here would almost certainly guarantee a place in the top 8, which means that they will skip the next round.
Besiktas Team News
A new chapter begins for Besiktas as Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjær is set to take charge of his first game as head coach. And what a challenge it will be – facing one of the best-performing teams in the Europa League, still unbeaten in the tournament and having dropped points just once. While questions may surround Solskjær’s abilities, given that this is his first managerial role since leaving United, one thing is clear: the spotlight will be firmly on him.
Typically, the “new manager effect” sees teams win their first match under a new coach, but we’ll see if that proves true here. One certainty, however, is that Besiktas’ home form in the Europa League has been far from impressive – with 2 losses and 1 win, mirroring their away form exactly.
Athletic Bilbao Team News
Athletic Bilbao will arrive in Turkey in high spirits, as one of the five teams still unbeaten in the Europa League. A win over Besiktas will secure their place in the top 8. Ernesto Valverde’s side has been on an impressive run since their opening 1-1 draw with Roma, winning 5 consecutive matches and keeping 4 clean sheets. The only goal they’ve conceded in the tournament came against Ludogorets.
Bilbao is also on the verge of breaking a record, as they aim to become the first La Liga team to secure 6 consecutive victories in a major UEFA competition. While they have a strong chance to achieve this, their recent form has been somewhat mixed, with a loss to Barcelona in the Super Cup and an early exit from the Copa del Rey at the hands of Osasuna.
Head-to-Head-Games
Besiktas and Athletic Bilbao have met three times in the past, with the Spanish side winning twice and the Turkish team claiming one victory. The most recent encounter between the two was in 2004, where Besiktas emerged victorious.
Besiktas – Athletic Bilbao Betting Prediction
My pick for this match is Athletic Bilbao to win. Their form in the Europa League has been outstanding, and they’re on the verge of both setting a record and securing a spot in the top 8 teams from the league phase. Given their recent disappointing results, I’m confident they’ll be motivated to perform well here. While Besiktas will have the boost of a new manager making his debut, I still believe Bilbao are the stronger team and will come away with the points in this game.
Betting Tip: Athletic Bilbao To Win
Bookmaker: BC.Game
Odds: 1.86
BC.Game
Place your bet on Besiktas – Athletic Bilbao at BC.Game