Two of Turkey’s football giants kick off their Europa League group stage campaigns on September 26, with Beşiktaş traveling to Ajax and Fenerbahçe hosting Union SG.
Beşiktaş coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who won the Champions League as a Barcelona player in 2005, is aiming for European success as a manager. The 49-year-old narrowly missed out on Europa League glory last year, losing the final to Eintracht Frankfurt while managing Rangers.
“I’m happy to be going back to my country,” van Bronckhorst said after Beşiktaş’s 2-1 Süper Lig win over Eyüpspor on September 22. “Ajax is a strong team, especially at home with their fans behind them. We need to get points to qualify for the next rounds. We will try to win even on the road.”
Beşiktaş enters the match riding an eight-game unbeaten streak across competitions, boosted by a strong start this season that included a five-goal thrashing of Galatasaray in the Turkish Super Cup. However, the Amsterdam trip will be their biggest challenge yet.
Meanwhile, Fenerbahçe looks to rebound from a 3-1 derby loss to Galatasaray when they face Swiss side Union SG at home. Under pressure after a Champions League qualifying exit to Lille and the derby defeat, José Mourinho’s squad will field key players Sofyan Amrabat and Youssef En-Nesyri, both rested during the derby.
Tottenham Seeks Europa League Lift Amid Domestic Struggles
Also on September 26, Tottenham Hotspur will host Azerbaijan’s Qarabağ as they try to shake off a shaky start to their Premier League season. Despite early-season promise under Ange Postecoglou, Spurs have suffered back-to-back league defeats to Newcastle and Arsenal.
Postecoglou remains focused on the long-term process. “I keep saying to people, ‘Show me a success story and I’ll show you a struggle.’ People forget the struggle and look at the end bit,” he said.
Tottenham will view the revamped Europa League — which no longer admits teams dropping down from the Champions League — as a prime chance to end a 17-year trophy drought.