Besiktas vs Lugano prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-10-04 16:45.
The Tupras Stadium will get its first ever taste of the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) when Beşiktaş continue their Group D venture following a 1-1 draw with Club Brugge on matchday one. An 88th-minute equaliser rescued a point in Belgium, as the Turkish side seemingly met their match after coasting through the UECL qualification stages by winning all six games earlier this season.
That’s been a nice change in pace compared to their previous European adventure, where they lost all six group games in the UEFA Champions League in 2021/22. The Black Eagles will be looking to get back to winning ways when they host a Swiss side for just the second time in their history, hoping to replicate the 2-0 win they secured over FC Zürich in 2007/08 when Lugano come to town.
This will be Lugano’s inaugural voyage into Turkish territory in what is their first UECL group stage appearance, and after their 0-0 stalemate with Bodø/Glimt, they arrive on an equal playing field with all four teams in Group D locked on one point. They’re considered rank outsiders alongside Bodø/Glimt to get out of the group, which would add to the failures of the 2017/18 and 2018/19 UEFA Europa Leagues, their only two previous appearances in the group stage of a European competition.
The continental circuit has been even less kind to the Black and White when they travelled, after they departed for home on the back of a defeat in 12 of their previous 17 European away matches (W2, D3). Back-to-back Super League victories at least has them coming into this fixture in winning shape, though they couldn’t manage a clean sheet in three domestic appearances since their scoreless draw against Bodø/Glimt.
Players to watch: Beşiktaş’ Vincent Aboubakar has registered a staggering 28 goal contributions (G23, A5) in his last 28 games for his club and country, with all but three of those 28 recorded in wins! Lugano’s Žan Celar will look to give him a run for his money, having netted seven of his last ten goals on the road.
Hot stat: There were goals scored in each half in eight of Lugano’s last ten matches.