Newsletters
Istanbul Basaksehir will host Universitatea Craiova of Romania on Thursday in the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League play-off. The first leg kicks off Thursday at 8:45 p.m. (GMT +3) at Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium.
The match will be officiated by referee Juxhin Xhaja.
This match will mark Istanbul Basaksehir's 67th European fixture.
The Turkish side, who have competed in continental competitions since 2015, hold a record of 26 wins, 17 draws and 23 losses in 66 games. Basaksehir have scored 100 goals and conceded 90 across those matches.
Basaksehir has twice reached the round of 16—in the Europa League (2019-20) and the Conference League (2022-23). They also featured in the Champions League group stage in 2020-21 after winning their first-ever Turkish Super Lig title.
Head coach Cagdas Atan said Wednesday that his side is fully prepared for one of the season’s most critical encounters.
“It may sound early to say, but this is one of the most important matches of the season. We are ready. My players are ready. Our fans created a great atmosphere in the last two games, and I hope we see the same energy again. We want to get an advantage before the return leg,” Atan told reporters at Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium.
The coach praised Craiova but underlined his team’s alternative strategies. “We respect our opponent, but we are prepared with multiple plans. They are the leaders of the Romanian league, and we know it won’t be easy,” he said.
Atan also welcomed the Turkish federation’s decision to postpone domestic fixtures before key European ties, adding: “It helps us focus and represent Türkiye in the best possible way. I wish good luck to Fenerbahce, Besiktas, and Samsunspor as well. Hopefully, we can continue with five teams in Europe.”
Basaksehir’s Uzbek signing Abbosbek Fayzullaev has been cleared to play after completing his paperwork, Atan confirmed.
Goalkeeper Muhammed Sengezer emphasized their ambition to secure a home win: “We passed two rounds already and want to take another step forward by winning in front of our fans.”
Craiova coach Mirel Radoi, speaking alongside former Galatasaray and Konyaspor midfielder Alexandru Cicaldau, admitted that Basaksehir enter the tie as favorites.
“Basaksehir is a very strong team, with a quality coach and players who can punish you with one touch. We must remain compact, avoid mistakes, and play as a unit. They are one of the most dangerous Turkish sides after Fenerbahce,” Radoi said.
The Romanian coach highlighted midfielder Berat Ozdemir as a key threat and warned his players against conceding space: “They are aggressive without the ball and very offensive with it. We need to stay focused for 90 minutes.”
1 min read
1 min read
