Levi Rothermund
Besiktas open their UEFA Europa League 2026/27 campaign at Tüpraş Stadyumu against a Midtjylland side that arrives in Istanbul in considerably better shape. The Danish outfit have won four of their last five matches across all competitions, while Besiktas have managed just two wins from six in the same period. Vincenzo Italiano’s side will rely on home advantage and the Tüpraş atmosphere to compensate for a shaky run of recent form.
Midfielder Orkun Kökçü is the creative hub for Besiktas, having logged 42 passes and four shots in his most recent appearance. For Midtjylland, coach Mike Tullberg has built a side that punishes teams on the counter, and whoever leads their attack in Istanbul will be the man to watch.
Hot stat: Midtjylland put six goals past Cardiff City in their last away friendly, suggesting their attacking output can be genuinely dangerous when the defensive shape in front of them is uncertain.
| 🏆 Tournament: | UEFA Europa League 2026/27, Second Qualifying Round |
| 🏟 Venue: | Tüpraş Stadyumu, Istanbul |
| 🗓️ Date: | 23.07.2026 |
| ⏰ Time: | 20:00 CEST |
Besiktas vs Midtjylland prediction
Midtjylland look like the better-conditioned team heading into this tie. Their 80% win rate over the last 30 days dwarfs Besiktas’s 33%, and the Danish side have shown they can score freely, beating Odense 4-1 and Silkeborg 4-2 in recent outings. Besiktas, by contrast, lost to Spartak Trnava 3-2 and were held 1-1 by OFK Malzenice in their last two competitive matches, neither result inspiring confidence.
We think the value sits with Midtjylland on the double chance or a draw-no-bet market. Besiktas at home carry a slight edge in the moneyline, but their defensive instability makes backing them outright a harder sell at odds around 2.05. Midtjylland at roughly 3.20 to 3.64 to win outright reflects a genuine chance of an upset, and honestly their current momentum supports it.
Besiktas averaged 17 fouls across their last five matches and gave away 13 free kicks. That kind of foul count invites set-piece danger, and Midtjylland are the type of side to exploit it. Besiktas’s pass accuracy sits at 396 completed passes from 469 attempted, which is reasonable but not dominant. Midtjylland’s style, based on their recent results, appears direct and high-tempo, likely to press Besiktas into errors in deeper positions.
| 🔥Hot Tip: | Midtjylland to score in both halves |
| ⚽Total Goals: | Over 2.5 |
| 💥Both Teams To Score: | Yes |
| 🎯Total Corners: | Over 9.5 |
Team Analysis
Besiktas have had a mixed pre-season and qualifying period. They beat Mattersburg 1-0 and drew 0-0 with Mosonmagyarovari TE in earlier fixtures, but the more competitive tests told a different story. A 0-2 defeat to Widzew Lodz was followed by a 1-1 draw with OFK Malzenice, and then a 2-3 loss to Spartak Trnava in their most recent outing. That last result is the one that stings. Conceding three goals to a side ranked 402nd in the world club rankings points to defensive vulnerability that a team of Midtjylland’s quality will look to exploit. Tiago Djaló scored in that match, and his ability to contribute from the back is a positive, but Besiktas’s defensive shape as a unit needs work before the competitive season begins in earnest.
Midtjylland arrive in excellent condition. They beat Odense 4-1 most recently, having already put six past Cardiff City in a dominant away display. Their 4-2 win over Silkeborg showed they can score even when opponents push back, and the 1-0 victory against Lillestrom demonstrated they can also grind out narrow results. The only blemish in their last five is a 2-2 draw with Malmo, but even that showed a willingness to attack. Mike Tullberg has this squad moving with purpose, and their consistency over 32 matches this year, with a 53% win rate, confirms they are not a one-run wonder heading into the qualifying rounds.
🚨Check out our dedicated Besiktas vs Midtjylland stats page for more info.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Besiktas the favourite
- Moneyline Besiktas 2.05 | Midtjylland 3.25
- Draw 3.30
- Over/Under Over 2.5 — | Under 2.5 —
- BTTS (both teams to score) Yes — | No —
Besiktas are priced as marginal favourites, which is fair given home advantage, but the gap between the two sides in recent form tells a more complicated story. Midtjylland at 3.25 with Pinnacle or 3.64 with several other books represents genuine value when you consider they have won four of their last five and face a Besiktas side that has lost two of their last six. The draw at 3.10 to 3.55 is not without appeal either. This tie looks tight, and Midtjylland are not here to defend.
Possible Starting Lineups
Besiktas possible starting eleven
- GK: Dogan Alemdar
- DF: Emirhan Topçu, Tiago Djaló, Emmanuel Agbadou, Ridvan Yilmaz
- MF: Wilfred Ndidi, Salih Özcan, Orkun Kökçü
- FW: Václav Černý, Semih Kılıçsoy, Ilhan Fakili
Dogan Alemdar starts in goal after appearing in the most recent competitive match. The back four picks itself based on playing time, with Tiago Djaló and Emmanuel Agbadou as the central pair. Ridvan Yilmaz, who registered an assist in the last outing, adds width and attacking intent from left back. Ndidi and Salih Özcan provide the double pivot in a 4-2-3-1, with Orkun Kökçü operating as the number ten. Ilhan Fakili scored in the Spartak Trnava match and keeps his place, while Semih Kılıçsoy and Václav Černý complete the attack. Kılıçsoy is the one to watch — he combined well with Kökçü recently and carries a real threat in behind.
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Midtjylland. Source: Official Facebook. Edited photo
TipsGG Match Prediction
This is a match where the numbers lean away from the home side. Besiktas have the crowd and the familiarity of Tüpraş Stadyumu working in their favour, but their defensive record over the past month is a real concern. Conceding three to Spartak Trnava and two to Widzew Lodz in back-to-back matches suggests Midtjylland, who scored ten goals across their last three games, will find gaps.
We think both teams score is the safest market here. Besiktas have enough attacking quality through Kılıçsoy, Fakili, and Kökçü to threaten, but their backline has been too open to expect a clean sheet. Midtjylland’s momentum, depth, and clinical finishing make them a genuine threat to win this tie over both legs. For the first leg specifically, backing over 2.5 goals and both teams to score looks like the strongest combination on offer.
