Beşiktaş, under the management of Solskjær, set to engage in a Conference League match against Irish side St. Patrick's Athletic.
Thursday night at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin will see Turkish powerhouse Beşiktaş face off against Irish side St. Patrick's Athletic in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League third qualifying round.
The Black Eagles, managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, have a strong European pedigree, having reached the quarterfinals of European competitions three times: in the 1986-87 European Cup, the 2002-03 UEFA Cup, and the 2016-17 UEFA Europa League.
However, they will be without some key players, as Jean Onana, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Emrecan Uzunhan, and UEFA-ineligible players will not feature in the squad list.
St. Patrick's Athletic, on the other hand, will be looking to make a mark in European competition. This will be the first time they face a Turkish club in European competition. In their previous encounter with a Turkish team, they met Basaksehir in the 2024-2025 playoff round.
In the reverse fixture against St. Patrick's last season, Beşiktaş mounted a comeback to win 3-2, securing a 7-3 aggregate victory. The tie saw St. Patrick's take an early lead in Istanbul with a penalty scored by Conor Carty and a goal from Ryan McLaughlin, but Beşiktaş responded with goals from Demir Ege Tıknaz, Tammy Abraham, and João Mário.
Probable Lineups
St. Patrick's Athletic: Anang; Grivosti, McClelland, McLaughlin, Redmond; Lennon, Leavy, Mulraney, Power; Baggley, Melia
Beşiktaş: Mert; Svensson, Paulista, Necip Uysal, Emirhan Topcu, Demir Ege Tiknaz, Kartal Kayra, Joao Mario, Rafa Silva, Muci, Abraham
Notable Players
Among the current Beşiktaş squad, Rafa Silva has three goals, Milot Rashica, Salih Ucan, and Joao Mario each have two, while Al-Musrati, Emrecan Terzi, Ernest Muci, Tayfur Bingol, Necip Uysal, and Tammy Abraham have each scored once.
Standout performers for St. Patrick's Athletic in the reverse fixture were Conor Carty and Ryan McLaughlin, each scoring in the second leg to give hope of an upset.
Injury Concerns
Mustafa Hekimoglu, Can Keles, and Felix Uduokhai missed the final training session due to injuries and illness.
Solskjaer's Comments
Solskjaer expressed respect for the Irish opponent and acknowledged that there are no easy wins. He also commented on St. Patrick's forward Mason Melia, stating that he is a top player and can play in the Premier League.
Despite the win, Beşiktaş’s defense showed vulnerability, having conceded in all official matches this season including against St. Patrick’s and Shakhtar Donetsk.
Slovenian referee David Smajc will officiate the match.
Solskjaer stated that his team is prepared for a challenging match and will give their best, noting that players showed a strong reaction during the week's training.
The winner of this tie will advance to the playoff round, where Beşiktaş will face Lausanne-Sport from Switzerland.
Istanbul, the vibrant city in Turkiye, will serve as the backdrop for a UEFA Conference League third qualifying round match between Beşiktaş and St. Patrick's Athletic. This encounter marks St. Patrick's first meeting with a Turkish club in European competition, having previously faced Basaksehir in the 2024-2025 playoff round.
The Turkish side, Beşiktaş, boasts a rich European history, reaching the quarterfinals of various competitions three times, including the 1986-87 European Cup, the 2002-03 UEFA Cup, and the 2016-17 UEFA Europa League.
The economic significance of this match extends beyond the sport, as a win for Beşiktaş will see them advance to face Lausanne-Sport from Switzerland in the playoff round. The footballing rivalry between these two teams is certain to be a thrilling spectacle, promising an exciting night of sports competition in Istanbul.
