Besiktas faces crucial clash against Lyon, Europa League: Must-win rematch from 2017

In the third week of the UEFA Europa League group stage, Besiktas will travel to France to face Olympique Lyon on Thursday, October 24th, at 22:00 CET at Lyon’s Groupama Stadium.

After a challenging start to their European campaign, with two consecutive losses, this match offers a pivotal opportunity for the Black Eagles to turn their fortunes around and keep their hopes of advancing to the knockout stage alive.

Besiktas’ struggles and urgent need for victory

Besiktas has yet to earn any points in the Europa League, suffering heavy defeats—4-0 against Ajax and 3-1 to Eintracht Frankfurt—in their first two matches. In contrast, Lyon has been in excellent form, winning both of their games and currently leading the group with six points. For Besiktas, securing a positive result in this challenging away fixture is crucial to remaining in contention for progression to the next round.

Despite their difficulties in Europe, Besiktas, under head coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst, has performed better in the Turkish Super Lig, where they sit in second place. A win against Lyon could provide a much-needed morale boost, especially ahead of their upcoming domestic derby against rivals Galatasaray next week.

Rematch of dramatic 2017 encounter

Besiktas and Lyon’s recent history features a dramatic quarterfinal tie in the 2017 UEFA Europa League. In that series, Lyon won the first leg 2-1 at home, while Besiktas equalized with the same scoreline in Istanbul. However, after extra time and a tense penalty shootout, Lyon triumphed 7-6, eliminating Besiktas and advancing to the semifinals. This tie is remembered not only for its thrilling football but also for the crowd disturbances in Lyon, which added tension to the already dramatic matchup.

Besiktas will seek to avenge that bitter defeat as they face Lyon once again in another high-stakes European clash.

The atmosphere for this match is expected to be heated, largely due to the events that transpired during the first encounter between the two clubs in 2017. Olympique Lyon management is doing everything in its power to minimize the number of Turkish supporters in the stands. Given the potential for conflict, police presence will be crucial to maintain order, as there are concerns about brawls erupting both inside and outside the stadium.

Injury concerns for Besiktas, particularly in goal

Besiktas heads into this match with several key injuries, especially in the goalkeeper position. First-choice keeper Mert Gunok is sidelined with a shoulder injury, while Ersin Destanoglu remains doubtful due to a thigh injury sustained in their previous Europa League fixture. If Ersin is unable to play, 19-year-old Goktug Baytekin, a product of Besiktas’s youth academy, will likely make his senior debut in this critical match.

Additionally, key defender Gabriel Paulista and winger Milot Rashica will also miss the game due to ongoing injuries, further complicating Besiktas’ lineup decisions.

Besiktas’ predicted lineup

Head coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst is expected to field the following lineup against Lyon:

Goktug Baytekin (or Ersin Destanoglu, if fit); Svensson, Uduokhai, Emirhan, Masuaku; Ndour, Gedson Fernandes; Rafa Silva, Muci, Semih Kilicsoy; Immobile.

Lyon’s strong position and attacking threats

Lyon, having secured six points from their first two group matches, is in a strong position heading into this game. They convincingly defeated Olympiakos 2-0 and Rangers 4-1, showcasing their attacking capabilities.

With players like Alexandre Lacazette, Rayan Cherki, and Sinaly Diomande, Lyon poses a significant threat to Besiktas’ defense.