Our prediction for this Europa League match:
B36 Torshavn
Match Time & Date:
26/07/2018
02:00 PM
Prediction: 1-2
Besiktas
B36 square off against Besiktas at Gundadalur in Torshavn in the first leg of the Europa League second qualifying round. The Faroe Island side did well to shock Mladost Podgorica in the first qualifying round, with the team gaining a much-needed confidence. B36 aim to claim yet another major scalp, but they will have a much bigger fish to fry in Thursday’s football match against Besiktas. The hosts are likely to adopt a defence-minded approach in the first leg, but we do not believe that they are capable of preventing Besiktas attackers from scoring. The Turkish side aim to finish the job in the first leg and there is every chance the likes of Alvaro Negredo and Vagner Love will make life difficult for the opposition defenders. Besiktas are undisputedly more of a team than B36 and we predict that the visitors are going to prove their worth on the field.
Highlighted Player (Gary Medel):
Gary Medel is a versatile defensive midfielder who currently plays for Inter Milan in Serie A. The Chilean professional is well-known for this work-rate and untiring approach along with his aggressive, physically demanding and hard-tackling style of play. It is these qualities that earned him the sobriquet of “Chilean Pitbull”.
Medel started his professional career with Universidad Catolica as a youth player before moving to Boca Juniors. He followed it up with a stint in La Liga with Sevilla. Medel was also a key member with Cardiff City, which was his next destination. The relegation of Cardiff meant that Medel moved to Inter Milan. A full international with over 80 caps for Chile, Medel has represented his nation at two FIFA World Cups and an equal number of Copa America tournaments.
He was a key member of Chilean team that won the 2015 Copa America and was subsequently named in the ‘Team of the tournament’.
Highlighted Team (Besiktas):
Besiktas football club is one of the most successful teams in Turkey. Since its foundation in 1903, Besiktas have never been relegated to a lower rank of Turkish football. Black Eagles as they are known in Turkey play their matches at the Vodafone Arena in Istanbul which is an almost 42,000 all-seater capacity venue.
Considered one of the top three football clubs in the country, Besiktas are the 14-time Super Lig champions who are entering the Champions League group stage in the 2016-17 season looking to make their presence known at the European scene. Besiktas have played in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League four times already, and are yet to progress through to the knockout sgateg in the competition that was established in today’s format in 1992.
Their most outstanding European achievements of the Turkish side are the European Cup and UEFA Cup quarter-finals in 1987 and 2003, respectively. During their rich history the Black Eagles have also won 9 Turkish Cups and 8 national Super Cup titles.
