Match Preview — myBET HELPER

📊 Match Insights

Besiktas kicks off their 2026-27 season on Thursday night, hosting FC Midtjylland in Istanbul for the first leg of an important Europa League qualifier, now under new management. Both teams enter the second round, with just three matches standing between them and a spot in the league phase, which Midtjylland reached impressively last season. Besiktas had a disappointing previous campaign, finishing fourth in the Turkish Super Lig, far behind title rivals Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, and they are eager to avoid another early European exit. After Sergen Yalcin's departure, Vincenzo Italiano has taken the helm, bringing experience from his time managing Bologna and Fiorentina in European competitions, raising hopes for a turnaround. It's been five years since Besiktas last won the domestic title and three years since they qualified for a UEFA group stage, and there is optimism that Italiano can help restore their former glory. The new coach has already signed established players like German goalkeeper Alexander Nubel and former Arsenal striker Leandro Trossard, though Trossard will miss Thursday’s match as he recovers from international duty. In preparation for their Europa League match, Besiktas engaged in five friendly matches, winning only two against lower-tier teams Gyirmot and SV Mattersburg, while suffering defeats to Spartak Trnava and Widzew Lodz, and drawing with Dynamo Malzenice. Conversely, Midtjylland has had a strong preseason, securing four victories in five matches, including a commanding 6-0 win over Cardiff City and a 4-1 triumph against Odense.