Verdict: Burnley win
Best Odds: 21/20
Bookmaker: Bet365
After drawing the first leg 0-0 in Turkey last week, Sean Dyche’s Burnley side will look to move one step to booking their spot in the Europa League when they welcome Basakeshir to Turf Moore on Thursday night. The Clarets boss will also be hoping that his side can improve on their recent form in the final third.
Burnley
Although it isn’t the dream start for Dyche’s side following on from their record-breaking season last year, Burnley still remain firmly in contention of bring European football to Turf Moor. After coming through Aberdeen in the last round via a six-goal thriller in extra time, The Clarets kicked off their Premier League campaign with a 0-0 draw at Southampton. They will, however, be disappointed to not come away with all three points after creating a string of opportunities. Along with picking up a goalless draw in Turkey last week, while Burnley have not found the net in their last three, they always prove to be a tough side to brake down at Turf Moor and will enter Thursday’s matchup at the favorite. The winners of this tie will most likely play Greek side Olympiakos for a place in the group stage.
Team News
Burnley remain without Robbie Brady, Steven Defour and Matej Vydra, while goalkeepers Nick Pope, Tom Heaton and Anders Lindegaard are all injured.
Joe Hart will start his third straight Burnley match. Striker Chris Wood returned from an infected insect bite at Southampton on Sunday.
Istanbul Basaksehir
As for the visitors, after enjoying a rise under Abdullah Avcı back in 2015, Istanbul have grown from strength to strength and finished last season just three points adrift of Turkish champions and powerhouses Galatasaray. Enjoying another impressive start to the new domestic campaign with a 2-0 win at home to Trabzonspor on Sunday, Basaksehir have now only lost three matches in their last 19 outings. However, like their hosts on Thursday, Avci’s side have now drawn three of their last six and have recently shown some issues at finishing off games.
Team News
Gael Clichy and Emmanuel Adebayor are familiar to English football fans and men could line up for the visitors here, although the former is more likely to play than the latter as the striker was omitted from the squad last week.
Key Factors to Consider
- This will be just the second meeting between Burnley and Turkish opposition, with the first leg also Istanbul Basaksehir’s only other meeting against an English side.
- In Burnley’s seven previous home ties in European competition, the Clarets have never been involved in a draw, winning six and losing the other 2-1 to Eintracht Frankfurt back in April 1967.
- Joe Hart will be looking to keep three successive clean sheets for the first time since March 2016, when playing for Manchester City against Aston Villa (4-0), Norwich (0-0) and Dynamo Kiev (0-0).
- Istanbul Basaksehir have won just one of their eight away games in all European competition (D3 L4).
- They have never kept a clean sheet away from home in European competition, conceding 17 goals in their previous eight matches.
Conclusion
While on paper it will be Burnley’s toughest test on route to booking their spot in the group stages of this years Europa League, we do expect the hosts to come away with the win on Thursday. Although they must take note of Celtic’s surprising exit in the Champions League qualifying, The Claret’s will be boosted by their European record at Turf Moore. Along with the visitos winning just one of their eight away matches in the competion, backing Dyche’s side to come away with the win at 21/20 seems like the safest bet here.
Verdict: Burnley win
Best Odds: 21/20
Bookmaker: Bet365
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