Besiktas Aim to Bounce Back After Early Setback Against Shakhtar
The UEFA Europa League second qualifying round served up a fascinating first-leg clash in Istanbul as Turkish giants Besiktas hosted Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk. A match loaded with history, expectations, and managerial intrigue ended with a 2-1 advantage for the visitors—an unexpected result that leaves Besiktas with work to do in the return leg.
Coming into the tie, there was a strong buzz around Besiktas. New signings like Orkun Kokcu, David Jurasek, and Tammy Abraham had raised hopes among supporters, especially with former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the helm. This was supposed to be a statement game—a chance for Besiktas to erase the disappointment of last season's underwhelming Super Lig finish and Europa League campaign. But it didn’t start according to script.
Within just seven minutes, Shakhtar were on the scoresheet thanks to a cool finish from Alisson Santana. Then, before the home side could fully regroup, Eguinaldo made it 2-0 with a sharp strike in the 28th minute. Besiktas looked stunned. The vibrant crowd at the Tupras Stadium went quiet for a moment as the reality set in—this was no friendly, and Shakhtar came prepared.
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Besiktas did find a lifeline before halftime, as Tammy Abraham confidently converted a penalty in the 40th minute. That goal injected some urgency and belief into Solskjaer’s side, but they couldn’t manage an equalizer despite a stronger second-half showing. Rashica, Rafa Silva, and Kokcu showed flashes of creativity, but Shakhtar’s compact shape and disciplined midfield kept them from finding that crucial breakthrough.
What’s more impressive is that Shakhtar, now led by Turkish icon Arda Turan, are operating under tough circumstances. With Ukrainian football reeling from the ongoing conflict, their domestic league has suffered, and UEFA coefficients have dropped. Yet they showed real quality and mental strength. Having already demolished Ilves 6-0 in the first qualifying round, they’ve continued their run of form into a much tougher matchup.
This loss means Besiktas will have to turn things around in the second leg if they want to keep their European hopes alive. Last season, they clawed past Lugano with an 8-4 aggregate in the playoff stage, so attacking firepower is clearly there. But questions remain about the defense and midfield cohesion.
Still, it’s only halftime in this tie. Besiktas have the players, the ambition, and now the motivation. With the return leg looming, expect a fired-up performance from Solskjaer’s men as they aim to silence critics and take back control of their European destiny.
The road to the Europa League group stage just got bumpier for Besiktas—but it’s far from over.
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