In the second leg of the UEFA Europa League qualifying round, Beşiktaş faced Shakhtar Donetsk away from home. Following a 4-2 defeat in the first match, Beşiktaş head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made four changes to his lineup.
The Norwegian manager replaced Jurasek with Emirhan Topçu, Orkun Kökçü with Kartal Kayra Yılmaz, Rashica with Joao Mario, and Gedson with Muçi. Solskjaer entrusted goalkeeper duties to Mert Günok and arranged a defensive line featuring Svensson, Paulista, Uduokhai, and Emirhan Topçu. In midfield, Demir Ege Tıknaz and Kartal Kayra Yılmaz were deployed, while Joao Mario played on the right wing, Rafa Silva took on the central attacking role, and Muçi operated on the left flank. Tammy Abraham was chosen as the striker.
Jurasek, facing criticism after a disappointing debut, started the match on the bench, allowing Emirhan Topçu to take his position in defense. The central midfield duo consisted of promising players from Beşiktaş’s youth academy, with Tıknaz and Yılmaz having recent loan spells with Rio Ave and Kayserispor, respectively.
Notably, Orkun Kökçü, a new addition to the team, was kept as a precaution due to swelling in his knee and began the match on the sidelines despite participating in the team’s final training session the day before.
Beşiktaş’s supporters made their presence felt in Krakow, Poland, where the match took place. Approximately 250 Beşiktaş fans filled the away section, bolstered by supporters from various European countries, alongside some Turkish fans wearing Galatasaray shirts who also came to cheer for Beşiktaş.
This match not only highlights the tactical adjustments made by Solskjaer but also the resilience and passion of Beşiktaş’s fans, showcasing a strong community spirit among supporters despite the challenges faced on the field. Looking ahead, Beşiktaş has the opportunity to build on these experiences and strengthen their performance in future matches.