Besiktas is entering the first leg of the Europa League qualifying round with a commendable defensive record. The Turkish team has successfully navigated their European fixtures without conceding any goals so far, and a recent clean-sheet win in domestic play has reinforced the notion that their defensive structure is becoming increasingly robust. Kauno Zalgiris, on the other hand, arrives in Istanbul following a disappointing end to their Champions League qualifying campaign, where they faced a significant defeat against Dinamo Zagreb. Although the Lithuanian team demonstrated resilience earlier in the tournament, the heavy loss in Croatia altered the course of their European journey, leading them to the Europa League. Now, they face the challenge of competing against a seasoned Besiktas side, which adds to the difficulty of their task. Besiktas is building their European campaign on a solid defensive foundation. They have recorded five straight victories without conceding, starting with a 1-0 win at home against Midtjylland, followed by a commendable 2-0 win in Denmark. They continued their streak with 1-0 victories against Hradec Kralove, both away and at home, and most recently against Eyupspor on August 16. In total, their four Europa League qualifying matches have yielded five goals while keeping a clean slate defensively, showcasing a team that is adept at controlling games without needing to pursue large scorelines. Their compact defensive spacing allows them to take the lead and manage the pace of the match, forcing opponents into challenging attacking situations rather than opening up the game unnecessarily. Besiktas' European experience is also a significant advantage. The club reached the UEFA Cup quarter-finals in the 2002/03 season and made it to the Europa League quarter-finals in 2016/17, in addition to several appearances in the knockout stages of the competition.