Beşiktaş’s home defence faces Crystal Palace’s away test

Beşiktaş’s home record sets the central test

Beşiktaş have won all 4 of their home games this season, scoring 9 goals and conceding 1. They have also kept 3 clean sheets at Tüpraş Stadium. Crystal Palace, by contrast, have lost their only away game, scoring 2 goals and conceding 3 without a clean sheet.

That makes Palace’s ability to create a reliable away performance the key question before Thursday’s 19:00 UTC kickoff. Beşiktaş have most often used a 4-1-4-1, selected in 5 matches, while Palace have used 3-4-3 and 3-4-2-1 once each. Those observed selections describe the teams’ usual shapes but do not establish their planned approach for this fixture.

What the provisional table adds

In the provisional UEFA Europa League standings, Beşiktaş are ranked #4 with 6 points from 2 games, while Crystal Palace are ranked #15 with 3 points from 2 games. Beşiktaş are 3 points ahead of Palace, and Juventus lead with 6 points; Beşiktaş trail by 0 and Palace by 3.

Availability before kickoff

Beşiktaş list C. Keles as off the roster, O. Kokcu as inactive and M. Rashica with an injury. Palace list C. Doucoure, Z. Gozo, E. Guessand and J. Lerma as off the roster, with C. Riad out with a knee injury. B. Chilwell, D. Henderson and T. Tomiyasu are questionable with injuries.

Can Palace end Beşiktaş’s home defensive run, or will the hosts record a fourth clean sheet in 5 home games?