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Besiktas is set to host St. Patrick's Athletic on Thursday in the second leg of the UEFA Conference League third qualifying round, aiming to secure a spot in the playoff stage. The Turkish side carries a strong advantage, having won the first leg in Dublin 4-1.
Kick-off at Tupras Stadium is scheduled for 9 p.m. local time, with Portuguese referee Antonio Nobre appointed for the match. The game will be broadcast live on local networks.
Besiktas requires only a draw, a win, or a loss by one or two goals to advance. A defeat by three goals would push the tie into extra time, while a loss by four or more goals would eliminate the Istanbul giants from European competition.
Norwegian coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer expressed confidence ahead of the match. "We are very well prepared and focused," he said. "The first match showed our quality, and we respect St. Patrick's abilities."
Striker Tammy Abraham was the standout performer in Dublin, scoring a hat-trick within the opening 29 minutes of the first leg.
The 26-year-old English forward has four goals in three competitive matches this season and is expected to spearhead Besiktas’ attack again.
Solskjaer indicated that several changes to the starting 11 are possible, with players like Mustafa Hekimoglu and Can Keles back from injury. South American midfielder Kenny Arroyo could make his first start after strong substitute appearances in recent fixtures.
"The goal is to continuously improve our squad and maintain focus in every competition," Solskjaer said. "This match is important ahead of the domestic season."
Despite the significant deficit, St. Patrick's coach Stephen Kenny vowed to fight. "Besiktas has high-quality international players, and we respect that," Kenny said. "We made mistakes in Dublin, but tomorrow we will give everything we have."
Midfielder Barry Baggley added, "Turning the tie around will be tough, but we are ready to compete until the final whistle."
The winner of the tie will face either Astana from Kazakhstan or Lausanne from Switzerland in the playoff round. Lausanne currently holds a 3-1 advantage from the first leg. The playoff matches are scheduled for Aug. 21 and 28, with the winners securing a spot in the group stage.
Thursday's match marks Besiktas’ 256th European fixture across all competitions. The Istanbul side has compiled 96 wins, 49 draws, and 110 losses, scoring 344 goals while conceding 391.
Solskjaer emphasized the importance of building momentum in continental competition. "We will treat every match seriously and pursue every opportunity for success," he said. "Our focus is on winning and establishing ourselves as a force in Europe and domestically."
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