Despite being one of Turkey’s three biggest clubs, Besiktas have been unable to excel in Europe, never making it past the quarter-finals in any of UEFA’s competitions.
They have made moves to rectify that this summer, though, bringing in two-time UEFA Conference League runner-up Vincenzo Italiano as their new manager.
Any hopes of a deep run in the UEFA Europa League will require them to battle hard, however, as an opening qualifying tie with plucky Danes Midtjylland represents a difficult test, and one which should bring goals.
Besiktas v Midtjylland Tips Summary
Best Bet - Both teams to score @ 8/11
Alternative Bet - Midtjylland or draw double chance @ 4/6
Bet Builder - Hyeon-gyu Oh anytime goalscorer, Dario Osorio 1+ shot on target, Over 2 goals @ 5/1
Besiktas v Midtjylland Prediction
Best Bet: Both teams to score @ 8/11
Italiano is not the only big name Besiktas have brought through the door, as Leandro Trossard represents a real coup given his crucial role in Arsenal’s Premier League title triumph last season.
He is unavailable for this match, but that is not to say the Turkish giants are lacking firepower. Orkun Kokcu is a severely underrated playmaker and with Hyeon-gyu Oh and Semih Kilicsoy latching onto his passes, they rate a deadly side.
Midtjylland do too, however. They showed that when routing Cardiff City 6-0 in a friendly last week and six wins in eight league-phase games during last season’s Europa League shows they have the quality to mix it with the best.
The pair look pretty evenly matched and it would be no surprise to see two strong attacks put on a show at Rams Park.
Alternative Bet: Midtjylland or draw double chance @ 4/6
Besiktas’s fiery home crowd will expect a win, but there is every chance Midtjylland spoil Italiano’s welcome party.
The Danish side seem to love travelling, going nine games without a defeat on the road and winning twice at Nottingham Forest in last season’s UEFA Europa League.
Factor in that Besiktas failed to win either of their final two home games of last term and Midtjylland have to be regarded as a big-priced underdog in Istanbul.
Besiktas v Midtjylland Bet Builder Tip
Hyeon-gyu Oh anytime goalscorer
Dario Osorio 1+ shot on target
Over 2 goals
Pays 5/1
Besiktas forward Oh was unable to prevent South Korea’s shock group-stage exit at the 2026 World Cup but he did look lively when given an opportunity and he should be raring to go on Thursday.
Oh scored once in just 129 minutes of World Cup action and having netted at an average of once every 180 minutes in last season’s Super Lig, he rates a solid anytime-scorer pick against Midtjylland.
The Danes have their own selection of top attackers to choose from, including Franculino Dju and Aral Simsir, but Arsenal transfer target Dario Osorio is perhaps the pick of the bunch.
The Chilean is an excellent creator but is also capable of carving out his own opportunities, averaging 1.5 shots on target per 90 minutes in last season’s Europa League.
Osorio and Oh should both play their part in a thriller, one which is likely to feature at least three goals, just as has been the case in five of Besiktas’s last eight competitive games.
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Key Match Stats
Midtjylland won seven and lost only two of their 10 games in last season’s Europa League
Both teams to score was a winning bet in four of Midtjylland’s final seven matches in the 2025/26 edition of the competition
Besiktas failed to win any of their final four friendlies
Midtjylland are unbeaten in nine away games, winning six
Besiktas have managed just two clean sheets in their last seven home matches
Franculino Dju averaged a goal every 104 minutes for Midtjylland in last term’s Europa League
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
