Besiktas face Marseille as contrasting fortunes meet in Europa League opener

Besiktas begin their Europa League league-phase campaign against Marseille at Tupras Stadyumu on Thursday, 17 September 2026, with both clubs starting a new era after changing managers during the summer.

Vincenzo Italiano’s Besiktas have won nine of their 11 competitive matches this season, drawing two, while Marseille arrive in Istanbul after three successive Ligue 1 defeats under Bruno Genesio.

The Turkish side endured a difficult European campaign last season. They were eliminated by Shakhtar Donetsk in the first qualifying round for the Europa League league phase, then failed to reach the main Conference League competition after losing to Lausanne-Sport.

That defeat ended Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s time in charge. Sergen Yalcin returned for a second spell and left after the 2025-26 season, having guided Besiktas to fourth place and qualification for the second qualifying round of the Europa League.

Italiano has since overseen victories over two legs against Midtjylland, Hradec Kralove and Kauno Zalgiris to secure a place in the league phase. Besiktas have also made a strong domestic start, sitting second in the Super Lig after collecting 12 points from five matches. They won 2-1 away to Fenerbahce before beating Erzurumspor 3-0 at home last weekend.

That result made it six consecutive home victories for Besiktas, including five clean sheets. They are seeking their first place in the latter stages of the Europa League since 2016-17.

Marseille finished fifth in Ligue 1 last season to return to the Europa League, having spent most of the campaign in the Champions League before a late decline followed major changes in the dugout. Roberto De Zerbi departed in February, Jacques Abardonado briefly took interim charge and Habib Beye completed the season before Genesio was appointed in the summer.

Genesio began with a 4-0 victory over Strasbourg, but Marseille then lost to Monaco, Paris FC and Rennes. The 1-0 defeat at Rennes last weekend left them 13th in the early Ligue 1 table, one point above the relegation play-off place.

The visitors can draw on a stronger European record, having reached three UEFA Cup/Europa League finals and the semi-finals as recently as 2023-24. Their most recent continental campaign was in the Champions League league phase, where they narrowly missed out on qualifying for the play-offs.

The sides have met only twice, in the 2007-08 Champions League group stage, with each team winning at home.

Besiktas are expected to be without Ridvan Yilmaz because of a thigh injury. Dusan Vlahovic should return after suspension, having scored four times in his last two appearances. Former Arsenal player Leandro Trossard, who scored his first Besiktas goal against Erzurumspor, is expected to start on the left.

Marseille are likely to miss Geoffrey Kondogbia and Tochukwu Nnadi, leaving Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg with an important midfield role. Amine Gouiri and Igor Paixao are expected to lead the attack.

Predicted teams

Besiktas: Nubel; Murillo, Agbadou, Topcu, Ouattara; Ozcan; Cerny, Olaitan, Kokcu, Trossard; Vlahovic.

Marseille: De Lange; Egan-Riley, Aguerd, Emerson; Weah, Hojbjerg, Abdelli, Gomes; Harit, Gouiri, Paixao.

Betting predictions

Besiktas or draw and over 2.5 goals: 1.82 Both teams to score: 1.49 Dusan Vlahovic to score: 2.18

Despite last season’s European disappointment, Besiktas’ unbeaten home record in competitive matches this season and their stronger start make a home victory a credible outcome. Marseille’s European pedigree is considerable, but their current run leaves them vulnerable.

Besiktas Europa League form: W, W, W, W, W, L Besiktas all-competition form: W, L, L, W, W, W Marseille all-competition form: W, L, L, L