Athletic Club Faces Besiktas in Crucial Europa League Clash

ISTANBUL, Turkey — Athletic Club and Besiktas faced off in a high-stakes Europa League match on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at the BJK Inonu Stadium. The game marked the penultimate round of the group stage, with both teams vying for a spot in the knockout phase.

Athletic Club, led by manager Ernesto Valverde, entered the match with confidence after a 1-2 victory over Celta Vigo in La Liga. The Basque team shared the top spot in their Europa League group with Lazio, needing a win to solidify their position. Besiktas, on the other hand, struggled domestically, sitting seventh in the Turkish Super Lig and seeking redemption after a 2-1 loss to Bodo/Glimt in their previous European outing.

Valverde made strategic rotations to the starting lineup, resting key players like Unai Simón, Vivian, and Iñaki Williams. In their place, Agirrezabala, Núñez, and Berenguer took the field. Besiktas, under new manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, fielded a strong XI featuring Ciro Immobile and Rafa Silva.

The match carried historical significance, as Athletic Club had won their first two encounters against Besiktas in the 1986-87 UEFA Cup but lost their most recent meeting in November 2004. Besiktas, meanwhile, had struggled against Spanish teams, losing five of their last six matches.

Over 600 Athletic Club fans traveled to Istanbul to support their team, hoping for a victory that would keep their European dreams alive. A win would also position them as potential supporters of Real Sociedad in their upcoming clash with Lazio.

The game kicked off at 16:30 CET, with both teams eager to secure crucial points. Athletic Club aimed to maintain their unbeaten streak in the competition, while Besiktas sought to turn their fortunes around under Solskjaer’s leadership.