Our prediction for this Europa League match:
Partizan
Match Time & Date:
23/08/2018
02:30 PM
Prediction: 1-1
Besiktas
There will be fireworks when Partizan and Besiktas, the two Black and White teams, face each other in Belgrade in the first leg of the Europa League play-off. The Serbs set up a meeting with the Turkish side by beating Nordsjaelland of Denmark, but they will have a much bigger fish to fry in Thursday’s football match against Ryan Babel and Co. Besiktas, on the other hand, were more than fortunate to make it to the final qualifying round, with Alvaro Negredo scoring a late away goal in the 2-1 loss to LASK. The Turkish side head into the match following a 3-1 win over Erzurumspor, but beating Partizan in Belgrade is easier said than done and, taking everything into account, we believe that there is a big value in betting on draw. When the two teams met in the Europa League four years ago Besiktas recorded back-to-back wins over Partizan.
Highlighted Player (Zoran Tosic):
Zoran Tosic is a Serbian winger playing for CSKA Moscow under a reputation of a free-kick specialist and a tricky dribbler. Technically gifted player has become an important asset for the Army Men in recent years who has made huge strides to prominence after his failed move to Manchester United.
The 29-year-old Serbia international moved to Old Trafford in 2009 from Partizan Belgrade, but has only played 74 minutes of competitive action for the Premier League side. The Serbian was quickly demoted to the reserve team before leaving the club on loan to Bundesliga outfit FC Koln. Tosic played just 13 league matches in Germany, but still managed to grab plenty of attention with his impressive appearances.
It wasn’t long before Russia’s powerhouse CSKA came knocking offering Tosic a five-year contract with a transfer fee believed to be worth £8 million. Serbia international has been a national team regular since 2007 so far notching more than 70 appearances for his country.
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.
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