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Besiktas will take on German Bundesliga side Hoffenheim in the second round of the UEFA Europa League league phase on Thursday, October 15, looking to build on its strong European form despite being without three players.
The match at Rhein-Neckar-Arena in Germany will kick off at 10:00 p.m. Türkiye time (7:00 p.m. GMT), with Belgian referee Lawrence Visser officiating. The game will be broadcast live on TRT 1.
Under head coach Vincenzo Italiano, the Istanbul club has won six of its seven European matches this season, including a commanding 4-1 victory over French side Marseille in the opening league-phase fixture.
Besiktas will travel to Germany without Vaclav Cerny, Milot Rashica and Dusan Vlahovic.
Cerny sustained a left hamstring injury during the Turkish Super Lig match against Kocaelispor, with an MRI scan revealing muscle strain and swelling. Rashica remains sidelined as he continues treatment, while Vlahovic was left out of the traveling squad after receiving intravenous treatment for a stomach illness.
Despite the absences, captain Orkun Kokcu heads into the match in strong form, having scored five goals in 13 appearances this season.
Besiktas has also built up momentum in Europe, recording victories over Midtjylland, Hradec Kralove and Kauno Zalgiris during its qualifying campaign before overcoming Marseille.
Hoffenheim: Oliver Baumann, Vladimir Coufal, Ozan Muhammed Kabak, Koki Machida, Mats Rots, Leon Avdullahu, Wouter Burger, Bambase Conte, Nathan De Cat, Adam Hlozek, and Tim Lemperle.
Besiktas: Alexander Nubel, Amir Murillo, Emmanuel Agbadou, Emirhan Topcu, Ridvan Yilmaz, Salih Ozcan, Ernest Poku, Junior Olaitan, Orkun Kokcu, Leandro Trossard, Hyeon-gyu Oh.
Hoffenheim's expected starting lineup includes Turkish international defender Ozan Kabak, who has made seven appearances and scored once this season.
The German side enters the encounter after losing its opening Europa League fixture and currently sits in the Bundesliga relegation zone.
Thursday's encounter will mark the first competitive meeting between Besiktas and Hoffenheim, as well as the Turkish club's 266th match in European competitions.
Besiktas has faced German opposition 14 times in European tournaments, recording two victories, one draw and 11 defeats.
Both wins came against RB Leipzig during the 2017-2018 Champions League group stage, when Besiktas secured a 2-0 home victory and a 2-1 away win before finishing top of its group unbeaten.
Hoffenheim, meanwhile, has previously faced a Turkish club twice, defeating Istanbul Basaksehir 3-1 at home and drawing 1-1 away during the 2017-2018 Europa League campaign.
Besiktas will now look to carry its recent European momentum into Germany as it pursues a second consecutive victory in the league phase.
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