Matchday five of the Europa League gets underway when Besiktas welcome Maccabi Tel Aviv to Istanbul, hoping to extend their winning streak.
The hosts are 18th in the Europa League table with six points from their four games, while the away side are yet to get any points on the board and are second-bottom in 35th place.
Match preview
Besiktas were bottom of the Europa League's 36-team standings following the first two matches, but a 1-0 win over Lyon on matchday three and a 2-1 victory against Malmo on matchday four saw the Turkish side make up a lot of ground.
However, Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side are in a rut at the moment, with that win against Malmo being the sole victory in their last five matches across all competitions, drawing one and losing three in that period, including a 4-2 loss to Goztepe last Sunday in the Turkish Super Lig.
The Black Eagles will hope to maintain their upturn in form on the continent, as they have an opportunity to win three straight matches in the competition for the first time since a four-match winning streak in 2011-12.
Besiktas will feel positive heading into Thursday's clash as they have a great record against Israeli sides, having not lost any of their six meetings against such sides – four wins and two draws – with two of those victories coming against Maccabi Tel Aviv in the 2011-12 Europa League campaign.
However, Bronckhorst's side have shown some fragility on home soil in recent weeks, losing three of their last five home matches across all competitions, including a 3-1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League.
Maccabi Tel Aviv will be hoping to have their own European turnaround on Thursday, having failed to win any of their opening four Europa League games, making them one of the two teams yet to pick up a point in the competition.
The Israeli side received a 5-0 thrashing from Ajax on matchday four, taking their goals conceded tally to 11 – the most by any side in the current Europa League campaign.
It also marked a fifth straight European defeat for Zarko Lazetic's side, including a loss in the Conference League round of 16 against Olympiacos in March.
The Yellows will hope that their recent success against Turkish opponents continues when they take on Besiktas, having beaten Sivasspor home and away in the 2020-21 Europa League after going winless in their first six games against Turkish sides.
Lazetic will also be hoping that his team can transmit their domestic form to the continent, after climbing to second place in the Israeli Premier League table with 22 points, level on points with first-placed Beitar Jerusalem following a 4-0 victory over Bnei Sakhnin in their last league game.
Maccabi Tel Aviv also have the advantage of a two-week rest period, having last played a competitive game on November 10.
Team News
Besiktas will be boosted by the return of top scorer Ciro Immobile, who has been sidelined with a thigh injury, but they will be without injured Ernest Muci, who scored against Malmo and has been involved in five goals in his last nine major European appearances.
Necip Uysal is also out with a ligament issue, with the midfielder predicted to remain sidelined until the middle of next month.
The visitors will also welcome winger Osher Davida, who was suspended for the game against Ajax, as well as left-back Roy Revivo.
Dor Turgeman, who found the net against Real Sociedad on matchday three, is expected to start in a front two alongside Elad Madmon.
Besiktas possible starting lineup:
Gunok; Svensson, Uduokhai, Paulista, Topcu; Musrati, Gedson Fernandes; Joao Mario, Rafa Silva, Rashica; Immobile
Maccabi Tel Aviv possible starting lineup:
Mashpati; Jehezkel, Asante, Stojic, Shlomo, Davidzada, Shahar; Kanichowsky, Sissokho, Peretz; Turgeman, Madmon
We say: Besiktas 2-1 Maccabi Tel Aviv
Besiktas are in a difficult spot right now, but they appear to have figured things out in the Europa League, and we expect them to make their home support count.
Tel Aviv are one of the Europa League's whipping boys, as their quality is short of what is required, which is why we are predicting a win for the hosts.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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