Prediction: Besiktas vs Neftchi Baku

Prediction: Besiktas to win 4-0

Best Odds: 8/1

Bookmaker: Zetbet

Besiktas and Neftchi Baku will lock horns with each other in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifier this week. It is the Qualifying Third Round tie between the club from Turkey and the team from Azerbaijan. Besiktas won the first leg of the tie 3-1 at the Neftçi Arena. The second leg of the tie will be held at the Beşiktaş Stadium and is scheduled to kick off at 6pm UK time on Thursday.

Besiktas

Besiktas are one of the biggest clubs in Turkey and are known globally for their success in their country and for their passionate fans. Besiktas supporters are among the best in the world, and they will have been disappointed with how last season panned out.

Kara Kartallar finished third in the 2022–23 Süper Lig table. They picked up 78 points from 36 matches, as many as 10 points fewer than winners and bitter rivals Galatasaray. It was a disappointing season in the end for the Black Eagles, who will not play in the UEFA Champions League or the UEFA Europa League this campaign.

Besiktas are doing well in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers at the moment and will fancy their chances of progressing from the Qualifying Third Round with ease. They won the first leg 3-1 in Baku and should be able to bang in three or four more goals at home against Neftchi Baku.

Team News:

Besiktas are likely to line up in a 4-3-3 formation. Gunok will be in goal. Rosier, Liysal, Colley and Masuaku will be the four defenders. Bulut, Aboubakar and Muleka will be the three forwards. Ucan, Hadžiahmetović and Gedson Fernandes will be the three midfielders.

Neftchi Baku

Neftchi Baku are a big club in Azerbaijan and are successful too. They have won the Azerbaijan Premier League as many as nine times. The first time that Neftchi became the champions of Azerbaijan was in 1992. After winning the title in 2011, 2012 and 2013, they finished runners-up in 2019 and 2020 before clinching the championship again in 2021. They ended up second in the standings in 2022.

The Oil Workers finished third in the 2022–23 Azerbaijan Premier League table. They picked up 68 points from 36 matches. Qarabağ FK, who won the title, bagged 90 points from 36 games, while Sabah FC collected 81 points from 36 matches to finish second.

Neftchi entered the UEFA Europa Conference League in the second qualifying round, and it seems that they will not be able to progress any further than the Qualifying Third Round. After all, they lost the first leg 3-1 at home against a superior team in Besiktas.

Team News:

Neftchi Baku will have Brkic in goal. Salahli, Tamas, Matias and Lebon will start as well, and so should Saief and Mahmudov.

Key Factors to Consider

• Besiktas have won their last 6 matches.
• Besiktas have not lost a match since February 2023.
• Besiktas have scored 11 goals in their last 5 matches.
• Neftchi Baku have won 1 of their last 5 games.
• Neftchi Baku have scored 6 goals in their last 5 games.

Conclusion

Neftchi Baku lost the first leg at home, and lost it badly. It is hard to see the Azerbaijan Premier League club do anything of note against Besiktas in Turkey. Besiktas have a much better and stronger team, and it is very likely that the home team will win the second leg by a big margin.

Prediction: Besiktas to win 4-0

Best Odds: 8/1

Bookmaker: Zetbet