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Besiktas begin their 2026-27 campaign on Thursday when they host FC Midtjylland in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League second qualifying round tie.
The Turkish giants are hoping a managerial change will spark a return to European prominence, while the Danish visitors travel with confidence after a good continental campaign last season.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Besiktas vs FC Midtjylland key stats
- Both teams scored in three of Besiktas’ five pre-season friendlies.
- Both teams scored in Besiktas’ last eight European home matches.
- Both teams scored in three of Midtjylland’s five pre-season friendlies.
- Both teams scored in two of Midtjylland’s last three European away matches.
Besiktas vs FC Midtjylland preview: Italiano begins a new chapter
Besiktas vs FC Midtjylland — Tale of the Tape
| Besiktas | vs | FC Midtjylland |
|---|---|---|
| 4th (Turkish Super Lig) | Position | 2nd (Danish Superliga) |
| 60 | Points | 60 |
| 59 | Goals For | 72 |
| 40 | Goals Against | 36 |
| 10 | Clean Sheets | 10 |
| 4th | Home / Away Rank | 2nd |
Besiktas enter the new season under fresh leadership after Vincenzo Italiano replaced Sergen Yalcin following another disappointing domestic campaign.
A fourth-place finish in the Turkish Super Lig and another early European exit sparked the need for change, and the club have responded by appointing a coach with an impressive record in UEFA competitions after his successful spells with Bologna and Fiorentina.
The Istanbul side have also strengthened their squad with the arrivals of Alexander Nubel and Leandro Trossard, although the Belgian forward will miss this match as he continues his recovery following World Cup duty.
Pre-season results have been mixed, with victories over Gyirmot and SV Mattersburg offset by defeats against Spartak Trnava and Widzew Lodz before a draw with Dynamo Malzenice.
Midtjylland arrive in Turkey with plenty of confidence after enjoying an excellent finish to last season and carrying that momentum into pre-season.
Mike Tullberg's side reached the Europa League last 16 last term after an outstanding league-phase campaign that included victories over Celtic, Nottingham Forest and Dinamo Zagreb before they were eliminated by Forest on penalties.
The Danish club also lifted the Danish Cup and have continued their strong form this summer, winning four of five warm-up matches, while unbeaten in all.
The visitors ended their pre-season with a 4-1 win over Odense which followed a 6-0 triumph over Cardiff, showing their attacking prowess heading into this clash.
Besiktas vs FC Midtjylland form guide & betting tips
| Besiktas | vs | FC Midtjylland |
|---|---|---|
W
D
L
D
L
|
Form |
W
D
W
W
W
|
| 4 | Goals For | 17 |
| 7 | Goals Against | 5 |
N/A |
Europa League | N/A |
Whispers predicts: Besiktas 2-1 FC Midtjylland
Besiktas have shown defensive vulnerabilities during pre-season, while Midtjylland have scored freely throughout the summer, making both teams to score at 3/4 (1.75) an attractive option.
The atmosphere in Istanbul and Besiktas' superior home record in European football make the hosts appealing at 21/20 (2.05) despite Midtjylland's strong recent form.
> Both teams to score – Yes at 3/4 (1.75) | Likelihood: Likely
> Over 2.5 goals at 10/11 (1.91) | Likelihood: Probable
> Match result – Besiktas to win at 21/20 (2.05) | Likelihood: Probable
> Correct score – Besiktas 2-1 FC Midtjylland at 15/2 (8.50) | Likelihood: Outsider