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Besiktas begin their Europa League league-phase campaign at Tupras Stadyumu on Thursday evening when they welcome Marseille for the first competitive meeting between the clubs since the 2007-08 Champions League group stage.
The Black Eagles have enjoyed a strong opening to Vincenzo Italiano's reign, while the visitors arrive in Istanbul after a difficult start to Bruno Genesio's tenure that has left them searching for a response in European competition.
Besiktas also have the benefit of entering the fixture after a 3-0 victory over Erzurumspor, whereas Marseille's most recent outing ended in a 1-0 defeat to Rennes.
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 Marseille key stats
- Dusan Vlahovic has scored four times across his last two appearances for Besiktas.
- Besiktas have won each of their six home games this season.
- Only two of Besiktas's last 11 matches this season produced goals at both ends.
- Marseille have lost eight of their last 11 competitive away matches.
Besiktas vs Marseille preview: Black Eagles aim to extend strong start against struggling visitors
Besiktas vs Marseille — Tale of the Tape
| Besiktas | vs | Marseille |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd (Turkish Sper Lig) | Position | 13th (French Ligue 1) |
| 12 | Points | 3 |
| 12 | Goals For | 6 |
| 4 | Goals Against | 6 |
| 2 | Clean Sheets | 1 |
| 2nd | Home / Away Rank | 16th |
Besiktas finished fourth in the Super Lig last season, leaving them facing another Europa League qualifying campaign after their European hopes ended before they could reach the continental league phase.
The Black Eagles have already gone further in Europe this term, overcoming Midtjylland, Hradec Kralove and Kauno Zalgiris to secure a berth in the Europa League league phase.
Besiktas will head into Thursday's contest on a high after collecting 12 points from their opening five Super Lig fixtures, leaving them second in the table and just one point behind leaders Galatasaray.
A 2-1 victory away to Fenerbahce was followed by a 3-0 home success over Erzurumspor, taking their winning run to three matches while also extending their perfect home record to six games.
Marseille, meanwhile, come into the contest having earned their return to the Europa League through a fifth-place finish in Ligue 1 last season, although their preparations for another European campaign have been far less convincing.
The French club have gone through a period of change since Roberto De Zerbi's departure in February, with Jacques Abardonado and Habib Beye both taking charge before Genesio was appointed during the summer.
Genesio could hardly have asked for a better competitive introduction as Marseille opened the new Ligue 1 campaign with a 4-0 victory over Strasbourg, but that promising start has quickly been overshadowed by three consecutive defeats.
Those setbacks came against Monaco, Paris FC and Rennes, leaving Marseille 13th in the table and only one point above the relegation playoff position.
That said, Marseille’s most recent continental campaign came in the Champions League league phase last term, where they narrowly missed out on the knockout playoffs and will aim to avoid another early exit on the continental stage.
Besiktas vs. Marseille form guide & betting tips
| Besiktas | vs | |
|---|---|---|
L
L
W
W
W
|
Form |
L
W
L
L
L
|
| 11 | Goals For | 7 |
| 5 | Goals Against | 8 |
W
W
W
W
L
|
[COMPETITION] | N/A |
Whispers predicts: Besiktas 2-0 Marseille
Besiktas look capable of making their home advantage count against a Marseille side that has lost momentum since the opening game of Genesio's reign, making a home victory at 1.75 (3/4) worth backing, while a 2-0 correct score win in favour of the hosts offers an appealing outsider selection at 10.50 (19/2).
Meanwhile, Besiktas over 1.5 goals at 1.62 (8/13) is another tempting option, particularly given the attacking confidence generated by their recent results and the quality available in the forward line.
Vlahovic to score at 1.73 (8/11) also offers an appealing route into the market, with the Serbian expected to return to the side after missing the weekend fixture.
> Besiktas over 1.5 goals at 1.62 (8/13) | Likelihood: Probable
> Dusan Vlahovic anytime scorer at 1.73 (8/11) | Likelihood: Possible
> Besiktas to win at 1.75 (3/4) | Likelihood: Possible
> Correct score: Besiktas 2-0 Marseille at 10.50 (19/2) | Likelihood: Outsider