Besiktas Vs Lugano

Following a thrilling first-leg encounter in Switzerland that saw six goals exchanged, Besiktas and Lugano will meet once again at Istanbul’s Tupras Stadium on Thursday for the decisive second leg of their Europa League playoff tie.

The winner of this two-legged affair will secure a spot in the newly-expanded 36-team Europa League, while the losing side will be relegated to the Europa Conference League.

Match Preview

Besiktas, led by head coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst, began the new season with a strong start, winning their initial three competitive matches with a cumulative score of 11-2. However, in the first leg of this playoff tie, they surrendered a two-goal lead, resulting in a 3-3 draw against Lugano.

The first leg was a spectacle of attacking football. Both teams entered the halftime break with the score tied at 1-1. The second half began explosively, with three goals scored in just six minutes. Gedson Fernandes added his second goal of the match, and Al-Musrati extended Besiktas' lead to 3-1 in the 55th minute.

Lugano quickly responded, with Renato Steffen scoring shortly after the restart. An own goal from Gabriel Paulista leveled the score at 3-3 just after the hour mark, keeping the tie evenly balanced as they head into the second leg in Istanbul.

Van Bronckhorst has indicated that the dry pitch in the first leg hindered Besiktas from executing their intended strategy. He anticipates a "different game" on a "better pitch" with the support of their home fans in the second leg.

Besiktas, who clinched the Turkish Cup last season and were eliminated in the Conference League group stage, are aiming to qualify for the Europa League proper for the first time since the 2019-20 season.

Lugano's Preparation

Lugano, like Besiktas, did not participate in domestic league action over the weekend, allowing them a full week to rest and strategize for the crucial second leg.

Last season, Lugano finished as runners-up in the Swiss Super League. Their 2024-25 campaign began with a mixed record: five wins, two draws, and three losses from their first ten competitive fixtures. They have yet to secure a victory in their three European qualifiers this season.

Lugano's European campaign has already faced setbacks, as they were eliminated by Fenerbahce in the Champions League second qualifying round, suffering a 6-4 aggregate defeat.

Mattia Croci-Torti will be at the helm for Lugano, aiming to lead his team to a significant triumph in Turkey. Lugano seeks to advance to the main stage of the Europa League for only the third time in their history and for the first time in five years.

The second leg of the Europa League playoff between Besiktas and Lugano promises to be a gripping encounter. With both teams having demonstrated their attacking prowess in the first leg, and Besiktas looking to capitalize on their home advantage, the match at Tupras Stadium will be pivotal in determining which team will secure a place in the Europa League and which will settle for a place in the Europa Conference League.